You have an.

Invitation
to visit with the
CHURCH OF CHRIST
in your area.
* gregation
When and where was the first con-
of churches of Christ
begun? (Isaiah 2:2,3; Daniel 2:44; Matthew
16:18-20; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:5-8; 2:1-4; Mark 9:1.1
* 'What or who Is Its founder and foun-
datiOn? Christ. (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians
3:11; Matthew 16:18.1·
* By what name Is the church called?
URomans16:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Tlmothy3:15J
* What are its members called? .
(Acts 9:13,14;11:26; 26:28: 1 Peter 4:16,)
* part
How Is one forgiven, to become a
of Christ's church (family)?
Faith, repentance, baptism Into
Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16;
Romans 6:3,4: Hebrews 5:8,9; Acts 8:27-40)
* How Is it organized? (Ephesians 1:22,23;
PhlllpptanS"'1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-12;)
* HoW does It worship? In spirit and In
truth. (John 4:24: Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; Colos-
sians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2.)
 THE VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL

STAFF:
STAFF WRITERS:
Edltor-in·Chiel: J.C. Choate
Managing Editor: Byron Nichols George Akpabli Parker Henderson
Layout Editor: Betty Burton Choate Felix O. Aniamalu Gordon Hogan
Rex Banks Wayne Jackson
Associate Editors: louis Rushmore
Wayne Barrier Ancil Jenkins
Jerry Bates Jerry Bates Jerry Jenklns
Typesetting: Gay Nichols Paula Bates Jimmy Jividen
Eulene Ramsey Roy Beasley John Kachelman. Jr.
Computer Consultant: Bradley S. Choale Mike Benson Dayton Keesee
Maxie B. Boren Dalton Key
SPANISH EDITION: T. Pierce Brown Michael L. King
Managing Editor: Ron Bryant Mack Lyon
TELUGU EDITION: Charles Burch Joe Magee
Managing Editor, Translator: Jacl< W. Carter J. Randal Matheny
Joshua Gootam Ron Carter Cecil May, Jr.
TAMIL EDITION: Frank Chesser Colin McKee
Managing Editor, Translator: P.R. Swamy Betty Burton Choate Jane McWhorter
BRAILLE EDITION: JerilCline Hollis Miller
Managing Editor (India) , Philemon Raja Glenn Colley Loy Mitchell
Lance Cordle Stan Mitchell
Cost: $4.00 for single issues; Owen Cosgrove Kevin L Moore
$12.00 for four issues; $20.00 lor eight Bruce Daugherty Bill Nicks
Sunny David Don L NOIWOOd
issues. Please make checks payable
Jerry L Davidson OWen D. Olbrichl
to World Evangelism Foundation,
Hans Dederscheck Basil Overton
and mail to Byron Nichols, (Managing David Deffenbaugh Max Patterson
Editor) P.O. Box 11218, Springfield, Clarence Deloach, Jr. Marilyn Peeples
MO 65808; Telephone: 417-823-4918. Bill Dillon Miles Peeples
Please send articles for publica- Bobby G. Dockery David Pharr
tion and changes of address to Byron Hershel Dyer Neal Pollard
Nichols in Springfield, Including both Earl Edwards G.F. Raines
old and new addresses, so that our DemarElam Bonnie Rushmore
records can be corrected. Raymond Elliott Louis Rushmore
Reuben Emperado Stanley Sayers
David Everson David Tarbet
THE VOICE OF TRUTH INTER- Allan E. Flaxman J.A. Thomlon
NATIONAL is published by church- Royce Frederick Betty Tucker
es of Christ as a non-profit effort. Albert Gardner J.J. Turner
J.e. Choate (editor) P.O. Box 72, E. Claude Gardner
JoeD. Gray
Ken Tyler
Don W. Walker
Winona. MS 38967, USA; E-mail
Gary C. Hamplon Allen Webster
address: Choale@WortdEvangelism.org; Jack Harriman R.H. Tex Williams
Phone: 662-283-1192.
 I Walked the Path
I walked the path of suffering - I thought I was alone,
But soon I learned that others had heartaches
like my own.
A legion came to join ine - an understanding throng -
To share and bear our burdens, heal suffering with song.

I found courage in their handclasp - I found patience

in their calm;
I found hope in faith's assurance -I found healing
in their balm.
I'm not alone in suffering -I'm not alone In tears,
For those who weep with those who weep
can wipe away my tears.

And too,when sore affliction comes - a dreary, rainy day -

I look Inside my heart and find rich blessings stored away.
I take them from a treasure chest, and count them
o'er and o'er
And thlni< how good God's been to men -
Why don't we trust Him more?

If all were sun and sunshine - i f clouds would never weep -

Would little flowers 11ft their heads, would sowers ever reap?
The valleys down below us but emphasize the heights;
Low;'hanging clouds about us are pierced with shafts
of light.

If sickness never hl~dered, and pain ne'er wracked

our frame,
Would days of health be cherlshed,if suff'rJngnever came?
In de.eps olUfe's great ocean, may Irritants be pearled,
And.ln tl1~ dilysof reck'nlno.be gems of heaven's world.

-- A.C. Williams
 EDITORIAL

WHAT CAN You

Do?
J. C. Choate
Editor-in-Chief

We onen hear that brethren are

bored with worship. or they feel
neglected by the other members of
the church: no one calls them; no
one visits them; no one is aware of
their needs.
There are others who wonder
why no one ever calls on them to do
something in worship or in the
activities of the church. They feel
unwanted or unneeded or. perhaps, judged to be unworthy or incapable.
What is the problem with this kind of thinking? First, the focus is
wrong. Many Christians today leel that if Ihe "worship service" is not enter-
taining and emotionally charged, it is a waste of time. But read the
Scriplures concerning "worship" . Being entertaining or enthralling as an
experience for the worshipper is not there. When we truly worship, our
focus must be on God, giving praise, thanksgiving and honor to Him. True,
a part of the regimen is a study of the Scriptures, to build us up, but this, too,
is 10 enable us to focus on learning more about God and becoming more
closely patterned after His image through our knowledge.
Why does God stress knowledge and study, as vital 10 Christian wor-
ship and development, ralher than emotions? Because He knows that emo-
tions are fickle. How often do we feel elated, for no good reason? or
depressed for no good reason? How often, when " worship" seems "empty"
to us is it because of our own emotional low, not because the service itself
was lacking in any way, scripturally? God knows that the sure method for
us to be right before Him is to worship, focussing on Him, not on ourselves;
and to worship in spirit (with our whole heart) and according to Truth - not
according to fleeting emotions.

3
 Do you know another "reason" some people find worship to be boring?
Consider this parallel: If a student spends his whole life attending college
classes but never reaches the point of applying his knowledge in order to
make a living, what has he accomplished? Studying the same materials year
after year, but never using them, would grow to be very boring, wouldn't it?
Now, think of all the members of the church who spend their entire
lives going to the building each week to attend Bible classes and to hear ser-
mons, but never use that knowledge to teach others the Gospel. Though
they've been Christians since their early teens, and have grown old attend-
ing the services more or less faithfully, they can't point to a single soul they
have converted. When the lessons were only for themselves, and were
never passed on to anyone else, is it any wonder that such hearers become
bored?
Is "faithfulness" in the Lord's church gauged by how many weekly ser-
vices one attends? True, a dedicated Christian will want to be present for
every assembly, but this is not our work. our purpose in being in this world.
It is our privilege to be allowed to come into the presence of God and to
praise and honor Him in worship. But our work is to bear fruit to f-lim.
If you are teaching someone, and you are successful in getting that per-
son to sit next to you in the assembly of the church, do you know what you
will automatically do? You will hear that age-old lesson through his ears,
and it will be vital and new to you! That is why God gave humans - not
angels - the work of evangelizing the world, so that in the process of teach-
ing others we ourselves will be educated, strengthened, and grounded in the
truth. As long as we are sharing the Gospel, there will be nothing boring
about our Christian life or our worship.
So what can you do? Don't wait for someone to call you or pander to
your feelings or to ask you to do something. Take the initiative! Look into
the various programs of work - not the socializing and elltertaining
aspects - but look into the programs of work in which the congregation is
involved. Decide what your talents equip you to do, and volunteer. Don't
wait for someone to come to you and beg you to help. You can live an excit-
ing life of growth in the Lord by finding things to do and then doing them.
Do you have friends? Of course you do: but have you really tried to
share the Gospel with them? Have you encouraged them to go to worship
with you? Have you tried to arrange a weekly Bible study with them in your
home or theirs? Have you offered to enroll them in a correspondence course
or shared other literature with them?
4
 Have you considered volunteering with others in your home congrega-
tion to go to some place where the church is weak and help the local
brethren with a door-knocking campaign to sign up people for home stud-
ies? Or such a campaign could be done in your own community. Even ifno
one else in the church is involved, you could go out, perhaps each Saturday,
with a religious census form and visit homes up and down selected streets,
finding out the religious preferences of those who come to the door, and
enrolling all who are willing to take a Bible course. Leave a card with them,
telling them of programs they can watch on TV or hear on the radio, and
giving them the times of the church services as well as other community ser-
vices offered by the local congregation.
Then do the home studies with the ones who signed up. Or at least
accompany the preacher or elder or whoever does the teaching, and be train-
ing yourself to the point where you can provide the leadership in the future.
Christians must, again. be the people who know the Scriptures and are
equipped to teach!
In making those house calls, you may well be mistaken for a Mormon
or a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, because they are the ones who
have been out actively teaching for the past many years. Where have mem-
bers of churches of Christ been? In the auditorium, waiting for visitors to
come! Evangelism doesn't happen that way.
Order a box of Tile Voice of Trull, IIrternational and place copies in
doctors' offices, waiting rooms, and other places of business. In those wait-
ing rooms you may find materials left by the Jehovah's Witnesses. They
have long been convinced of the value of spreading their message through
literature, while we have been oblivious to the value of the printed page.
We need to learn that we cannot reap unless we sow.
Sign up as a World Bible School teacher. You will learn more about
the Scriptures and being a Christian in one year of sharing with others than
you would have learned in ten years of studying only for yourself. Try it!
You will be amazed not only at the tremendous increase you will see in your
own interest in the Gospel, but you will go to bed, thankful, each night for
the souls who have learned the truth through your desire to share. 'i'

Brother J.C. Choate passed from this earthly existence on

February 1, 2008. The next issue of The Voice of Truth
International will serve as a memorial to his life and work.

5
 ASSOCIATE EDITORIAL

HUMILITY - NOT
JUST NICE, BUT
NECESSARY
Byron Nichols
We tend to enjoy humble people. and
we usually arc uncomfortable around
those who are self-centered and proud.
II appears from the Scriptures that God
has pretty much these same feelings. It
may well be that we have often thought
of the goodness and attractiveness of
humility without having come to a realization that humility is esscntial to
our salvation. That's right - it is not oprional - it is absolutely essential.
This may comc as a major shock to some. but not only does God approve of
humility and disapprove of arrogance and pride, He makes it clear in His
Word that those who continue in their self-centered pride will be lost eter-
nally. In addition, those who truly desire to go to heaven absolutely must
practice humility in their quest for that everlasting happiness.
The attitude of humility expresses itself in obedience. To disobey is to
display arrogance and self-will, but to become obedient, whether to parents,
employers, governments, or the Lord Himself, one has to view himself as
being of less importance than the person or position of another.
However. humility involves much more than mere obedience. We may
not have given it much thought, but there are different types of obedience.
For example, a child may obey his parents, but his obedience may only be
the result of a dreadful fear of stern discipline for disobedience. A citizen
may obey the laws of the land. but may also be constantly critical of the
rulers and even have an intense hatred for them. A person might obey many
laws of God but be bitter toward Him, believing God to be unloving and
requiring far too much from man. None of these examples illustrate obedi-
ence that results from humility.
The obedience that is evoked by humility is not accompanied by such
feelings as irritation, antagonism, or resentment, but humble obedience is
6
 ASSOCIATE EDITORIAL

associated with such as contentment, gratitude, love, and agreement. Those

who render biblical obedience acknowledge and subscribe to the truthful-
ness of the prophet Micah's words in Micah 6:8, ..... And what does the Lord
require ofyou bill to do jllst~v. to love mercy. mId 10 walk I",,,,b(v witlt J'our
God?" (emphasis added).
Humility toward God eliminates willfulness on our part as it promotes
our understanding of our dependence upon the Lord lor all that we have and
all that we are. To see God in His awesome greatness helps us to see our-
selves for what we are - woefully weak creatures who could not even exist
were it not lor Him and His power, grace, mercy, and love. If only we could
duplicate the experience and response of Isaiah in relation to his vision of
the Lord as recorded for us in Isaiah Chapter Six! The prophet was enabled
to see, as it were. the Lord God Himself arrayed in His royal splendor as He
was seated upon His great throne. Then he saw and heard two seraphim,
and he heard one of them cry out, "Holy. holy. holy is Ihe Lord oj hosls; the
whole earth isfilll of His gIOl}'!" (verse 3). Verse 5 then reveals to us the
immediate reaction of Isaiah to all that he had witnessed in that marvelous
vision - "Then I said: 'Woe is me. Jor I am lindone! Because I am Cl man
oj IInc/ean lips. and I dwell in the midst of a people qf lInc/ean lips; .lc)r my
eyes have seen the King. the Lord ofhosts....
The book of Proverbs tries repeatedly to teach us that the pathway to
honor will take us through humility. This is especially clear in Proverbs
15:33 and 18: 12 with these words. " ... before honor is humility. ..
One of the most beautiful and meaningful passages in all of Scripture is
found in the second chapter of Philippians. where Paul paints a written mas-
terpiece depicting humility personified. He shows us in verses 5 through 8
the unparalleled humility and submission of Jesus. It is absolutely mandato-
ry that we then read verses 9-11. for it is here that we see the fruit resulting
from that submissive humility: "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every' name. that at the name oj
Jesus every' knee should bow. oj those in heaven. and oj those on earth. and
oj those IInder the earlh. and that every tongue should conJess Ihal Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the f'Jlher."
Dear friends. we obviously will never attain the position and honor that
belong only to Jesus. but He left directions for all who desire to achieve
honor that is truly honor. "Bitt he who is greatest among you shall be your
servant. And whoever exalts himself will be abased. and he who hllmbles
himselfwill be exalted" (Matthew 23: 11.12).
Humility that results in submissive obedience is our map for getting
from earth to heaven. There is no acceptable, alternate route. 'J'
7
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
GoD
The Preexistence and Deity ....... Reuben S. Emperado ............ 10
The Eternal Sacrifice ........ Betty Burton Choate .......................... 14
Preaching the Love of God ...... Cecil May, Jr. .. .......................... 19
THE WORD OF GOD
Truth ............................................ Jack W. Carter ..........................21
Modern Man vs. God's Word .. Rick Cunningham ......................22
EVIDENCES
Noah's Flood .. ,.......................... Owen D. Olbricht ........................25
Iraq in the Bible ......................... Selected ....................................27
SALYA110N
It's the Set of the Sail ........... Mike Sinapiades ........................28
The Wonder of Conversion .... A.R. Holton ................................30
A Divorce of Faith and Works ..... Stephen Siebert ...................... 31
Is Salvation Forever? .............. Bill Nicks .................................... 33
THE CHURCH
The Kingdom of God • •. .. ...... Sunny David ..............................34
Ingredients of a Great Church ... Clarence Deloach, Jr. .. ..........36
Brotherhood ............................ Jimmie Jividen ............................ 37
WORSHIP
Worship .................................... Charles E. Cobb ........................38
Keep the Worship Simple ...... Herschel Dyer ........................... .40
Clapping in Worship? ............ Gardner Hall .............................. 41
What a Novel Idea' .................. Stephen D. Rook ........................44
DOCTRINE TO UVE BY
The Vision of Dry Bones ... Jerry L. Davidson ............................. .47
Recognizing and Resisting Wolves ..... Ardron Hinton ............... .49
An Objection to Baptism ........ A.L. Franks ..................................50
Predestination ........................ Owen Cosgrove ..........................51
CHURCH GROWTH
The Secret to Waking • •. .. ...... John-Mark Wilson ...................... 53
CHRlSTlANrrY IN AcnON
Questions about the Soul ...... Felix O. Aniamalu ......................56
One Mission ............................ John Gipson ..............................59
Can't Be Moved? .................... Danny Boggs ..............................60
The Thief in the Church .......... Charles Cash ..............................62
8
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LMNG
Study to Receive God's Approval ..... Wayne Barrier ..................64
Now That I Am a Christian ...... Tim Childs ..................................66
Trust the Lead .......................... Mike Benson ..............................68
Power - My Rights. •• .. ........ Jeril Cline ....................................70
Heart Disease .......................... Bonnie Rushmore ...................... 72
What Makes God Cry? ............ Jerry Bates ................................74
"What Goes Around Comes Around" ..... Roy beasley ..............76
What Lack I Yet? ...................... Ron Boatwright ..........................78
HEY, You KIDs!
Top Priority .............................. Alex Gibson ................................80
THE CHRISTIAN HOME
What Do You Mean by This Service? ..... Raymond Elliott ..........83
"Train Up a Child" .................. Lewis G. Hale ............................ 85
PRoVERBS '7:22
Humor ............................................................................................87
CHARTs AND OUJ"UNES
Consecrate Me, Lord .............. E. Claude Gardner ........................ 89
What Is the Greatest Commandment? .... Loy Mitchell ................91
TExTUAL STuDIES
Reliable Witnesses .................. Lewis V. Mock ............................93
The Casting Out of Satan ...... Maxie B. Boren ..........................94
BIBLE CHARACTERS
A Man Who Built a Boat ........ Betty Tucker ..................................95
Gideon: The Hesitant Hero .... Francis Parr ................................97
FEATURES, POEMS AND F1u.ERS
Invitation ..........................................................................................0
I Walked the Path .................... A. C. Williams ..................................2
Editorial: What Can You Do? ... J.C. Choate ......................................3
Editorial: Humility- Not Just Nice ...... Byron Nichols ................6
Verse Search ............................Jerry Bates ..................................23
Bible Find ......................................................................................52
How Do You Measure Up? ............................................................63
5-Mlnute Bible Study .............. Paula Bates ..................................79
Poem: Teach Him Gently ...... Author Unknown ............................ 86
FRoM THE HEART OF •••
Truth for Today World Missions: "America 2000"
Eddie Cloer ..........................................99
9
 GOD

The
Preexistence
and the Deity
of Jesus Christ
Reuben S. Emperado
Did Jesus have a conscious,
preexistent state before He came
to the earth? This question may
sound technical and complicated
to some, but it is a very impor-
tant question that must be con-
sidered and answered. Why?
Because many people today do
not believe in the deity of Jesus.
In this article we want to show from truth. founded this group in 1914 in
the Scripture that Jesus had a preex- Manila. He and his ministers have
istent state prior to His incarnation been advancing their pernicious
and that He was conscious of that errors aggressively. not only in the
existence. Philippines but also in other parts of
In our country (Philippines). the world. In fact. they are now
there is a fast growing cult that found in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia,
aggressively teaches that Jesus was Hawaii (mostly among Filipino com-
just a man and that He did not have munities), and in the mainland conti-
any conscious. preexistent state nent of America. These people teach
before He became a man. These that Jesus is not God and that He
people are known in our country as existed only as an idea in the mind of
Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ - God before He came to earth.
not to be confused with the true In this lesson we will show that:
church founded by Christ). Felix I. Jesus existed eternally and
Manalo. a Filipino evangelist who face-to-face with God.
was baptized into the church in 2. Jesus was conscious of this
1911, but later fell away from the existence.
to
 GOD
3. Jesus existed as a God.
4. Jesus was equal with God.
5. Jesus was the Creator of all
things.
6. Jesus became a man.
Jesus was with God in eternity
before He came to earth.
A. Prophet Micah said that the
Messiah came from eternity, from
the days of old. "But thou. Beth-
lehem Ephralhah. which arl little to
be among the thousands of Judah.
oUl of thee shall one come forth
unto me Ihat is to be ruler in Israel:
whose goings limh are from of old.
./i·om everlasting" (Micah 5:2, ASV)
Jesus, as the ruler of Israel, had
to come from Bethlehem Ephrathah,
as the fulfillment of Micah's words.
However, this prophecy also tells us
that His existence is from eternity,
or from everlasting. How do we
know that these words have refer-
ence to Christ? The best interpreter
of the Bible is the Bible itself. In
the Gospel of Matthew, when Herod
inquired where the Messiah was to
be born, the elders of Israel quoted
Malachi 5:2. (See Matthew 2:3-6.)
Isaiah 9:6, ASV, further ex-
plains: "For limo us a child is born,
unto us a son is given; and the gov-
ernment shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Might)'
God, Everlaslillg Father. Prince of
Peace. ..
Notice that the text says that
11
Jesus is "Mighty God", "everlasting
Father" or Father of eternity.
Again, how do we know that this
prophecy has reference to Jesus
Christ? We know because this
chapter from Isaiah is quoted in
Matthew 4: 12-16, describing the
work of Christ. Also, in Matthew
I :23, an angel of the Lord refers to
Jesus as "Immanuel, God with us".
Now we come to the New
Testament records. Both apostles
John and Paul said in their writing
that Jesus the Christ existed with the
Father before He came to earth. Let
us notice what they said:
"In the beginning was the
Word. and the Word was with God.
and the Word was God. lle was ;n
the beginning with God All things
were made through Him, and with-
out Him nothing was made that was
made ... And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, and we beheld
His glory, Ihe glory as of rhe only
begotten of the Father, full of grace
and ,,.Ulh" (John I: 1-3, 14, NKJV).
John. in this passage, tells us
four vital things about Jesus Christ:
1. That Jesus, as the Word, existed
in the beginning.
2. That Jesus was face-to-face
with God. Greek scholars tell
us that the Greek phrase "pros
ton theon" literally means
"face-to-face with God".
3. That Jesus existed in the nature
and form of God. John said,
 GOD
"and the Word was God. ..
(Verse 2).
4. That Jesus is the Creator of all
things in the universe.
S. That Jesus became a man.
John's statement concerning
Jesus is dynamite. In three short
declarations he tells who Jesus is
and what He did in eternity.
Now let us see what Paul had to
say about the origin and nature of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Have this mind in you. which
was also in Christ Jesus: who. exist-
ing in the form of God. counted not
the being on an equality with God a
thing to be grasped" - (Philippians
2: 5-8, ASV).
In Weymouth's New Testa-
ment, this verse is translated in this
manner:
"Although from the beginning
He had the nature of God lie did
not reckon His equality with God a
treasure to be tightly grasped"
(Philippians 2:60).
This passage tells the following
three things.
1. Jesus existed in the form of
God before He was born in the
flesh.
2. Jesus was equal with God.
3. Jesus did not hold on to this
equality but humbled Himself
and became a man (See verses
7,8)
Concerning this passage,
Vines' Expository Dictionary of
12
tbe New Testament has these very
important comments.
"This is important in Philip-
pians 2:6, concerning the deity of
Christ. The phrase "being (exist-
ing) in the form (morphe, the essen-
tial and specific form and character)
of God• .. carries with it the two
facts of the antecedent Godhood of
Christ, previous to His incarnation,
and the continuance of His
Godhood at and after the event of
His Birth (see Gifford, on the
Incarnation, pp. II, sqq.)."It is
translated 'exist' in 1 Corinthians
11:18, RV, for KJV, 'there be', Cf.
Luke 16:14; 23:50; Acts 2:30; 3:2;
17:24; 22:3."
Again, Vine said, "The present
participle of huparcho, 'to exist',
always involves a preexistent state,
prior to the fact referred to, and a
continuance of the state after the
fact. Thus in Philippians 2:6, the
phrase 'who being (huparchon) in
the form of God', implies His preex-
istent deity, previous to His birth,
and His continued deity afterwards."
The epistle of Paul to the
Christians in Colossae was written
to correct an error that was slowly
creeping into the church, which
attacked the supremacy of Jesus.
So, in this epistle. Paul clearly
declared that Jesus is the image of
the invisible God. that He antedates
everything and He is the Creator of
all things.
 GOD

"He has delivered us from the
power of darkness and translated lIS
into the kingdom of the Son of His
love. in whom we have redemption
through His blood. the forgiveness of
sins. He is the image of the invisible
God. the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on
earth. visible and invisible. whether
thrones or dominions or principali-
ties or powers. All things were cre-
ated through Him and for Him. And
He is before all things. and in Him
all things consist. And He is the
head of the body. the church. who is
the beginning. the firstborn from the
dead. that in all things He may have
the preeminence. For il pleased Ihe
Father that in Him all the fullness
should dwell" (Colossians I: 13-19).
From this passage we learn
many things about Jesus, through
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
1. God has delivered us into the
Kingdom of the Son He loves.
2. In Jesus we have redemption
through His blood.
3. Jesus is the image of the invisi-
ble God.
4. Jesus is the Firstborn of all cre-
ation, that is, He became God's
firstborn Son when He was
born in the flesh, so that,
through our brotherhood with
Him, He could bring many sons
to glory (Hebrews 2: 10; 1:5,6;
Galatians 4:4-6).
5. He is the creator of all things.
6. Jesus existed before all things.
7. Jesus is the head of the church.
8. Jesus is preeminent over all
things.
Many more passages could be
cited to prove our thesis in this arti-
cle, but I believe that the references
we have quoted in this article are suf-
ficient to prove that Jesus is God, that
He existed before time and before all
things, and that He has the suprema-
cy over all things. Jesus as God,
Creator, and Redeemer deserves all
our worship and honor. 1}
Reuben S. Emperado Is an evangllst
of the church of Christ In the Philip-
pines.

Jesus identified Hlmse/fwilh theG(ltl'Ofthe Exodusl

And God said to Mos's. "I AM WHO , AM." And He
said. "Thus you shailsay to the children of Israel. 'I AM has
sent me to you' "(Exodus 3:14)
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly. I say to you.
before Abraham was, I AM. n Then they took up stones to
throw at Him ... (John 8:58,59).

13
 GOD

THE ETERNAL SON

Our study of the Scriptures has shown that in Jesus' resurrection He
retained His relationship with humanity, that is, I-lis Sonship with God and
His brotherhood with man.
We have also seen that because of His obedience in all things, He was
exalted to the position of King of kings and Lord of lords. Today He rules
in heaven and on earth, and God alone is not subjected to Christ.
So the sacrifice, which began with emptying Himself to take the form
of man, has continued through I-lis ruling by derived authority during these
almost two thousand years.
What happens in the next phase? When this earthly age ends and the
righteous take up their abode in the new heaven and earth, what will be the
relationship? Will the sacrifice end and will the Word return to the position
of equality in the Godhead ,which was His from eternity? Revelation 19:11-
16 describes the Word as He reigns and judges the earth:
Then I saw heaven opened. and behold. a white horse. And He who
sat on him was called Faithful and True. and in righteousness He judges
and makes war. His eyes were like a flame offire. and on His head were
many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himse/j
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood. and His name was called

14
 GOD

The Word ofGoci And the armies in heaven. clothed ill/ine linen. white
and clean. jiJl/owed Him on white horses.
•VOll' out of His mouth goes a shm1} sword. thaI with it He should
strike the nations. And He flimse({ will rule with a rod of iron. fie
Himself treads the winepress of the jierceness and wrath of Almighty
God. And He has on His robe alld 011 His thigh a name written: KING
OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
The end will be heralded,
... when the Lord Jesus is revealed Fom heaven with His mighty
angels. injlamingfire laking vengeance Oil those who do not know God,
and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2
Thessalonians 1:7,8).
I saw the dead. small and great. standing before God. and books
were opened. And another book was opened. which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged according to their works. by the things which
were wrillen in the books (Revelation 20: 12).
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgmenr to the
Son ... (John 5:22).
And these [the disobedient, Matthew 25:41-451 will go away into
everlasting punishment. but the righteous into eternal life (Matthew
25:46).
Then comes the end. when fie delivers the kingdom to God the
Father. when He puts lin end 10 all rule lind all authority and power,
For He must reign till fie has put all enemies under His feet. The last
enemy that will be destroyed is death.
For He [God] has put alllhings IInder His [Christ's]feet. Blit when
He says. "All things are put under flim . .. it is evident that He who put
all things under Him is excepted.
Now when all things are made subject to Him. then the Son Himself
will also be subject to Him who Pllt all things under Him. that God may
be all in all (I Corinthians 15:2428).
These passages reveal what will happen from this present point in time
until the judgment of the world. But with the destruction of the last enemy
- death - and the blessing of the righteous with etemallife, the Word does
flot at last shed His immortalized human body which has bound Him to a
brotherhood with man. Instead, He lays aside His derived authority as King
of kings and places Himself under a deeper subjection to God, ", .. that God

15
 GOD
may be all in all." These words set the scene for the future and define the
relationship in the Godhead for eternity.
But if the righteous are born into God's Family while they live in the
world, and if at death their inheritance of eternal life with God has already
been granted, why does the change in the relationship of Deity continue?
Galatians 4:4-7 explains the basis for man's sonship to God:
But when the fill/ness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.
born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you
are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearls. cry-
ing out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son. then an heir of God through Christ.
The last word in this text is Christ. This is not the name of the preexis-
tent Person of the Godhead but the name of the Person He became: the Son
of God, the Son of man. It was this Person who came into being when the
Word emptied Himself and took the form of humanity. It was this Person
who died for man, who was resurrected, and who reigns today at God's right
hand as the Intercessor for His brethren.
What statement does the text make concerning this new Person, this
Christ? That something is done through Him; that an inheritance is channeled
from God through Him. Now, imagine: God is there, holding in His hands a
magnificent inheritance; man is also there, longing to receive the inheritance.
However, the bridge between the two must be in place if the gift is to be given
and received. Christ, as God's Son, as man's Brother, provides that bridge,
making the eternal inheritance a reality for obedient man.
Take Christ out of the picture. Return Him to His original position in
the Godhead. As the Word, there is no Sonship; there is no Firstborn. So
what happens to the family relationship, to those who were born in His
wake? If there is no Firstborn, can there be other sons and daughters?
The text says that it is His Spirit in our hearts acknowledging the
Father-Son relationship that makes us the children of God. It is through the
continuation of that relationship that our own relationship continues to be
possible. It is through the rights of our elder Brother that we are heirs.
Another passage speaks of the duration of the Sonship of Christ: ..... but
the word of the oath [God's promise concerning the redemption that would
come through Abraham's seed] appoints tile SOli who has been pelfected
loret'er" (Hebrews 7:28).
16
 GOD

Hebrews 5:8,9 explains that the Son was perfected through His suffer-
ings, a sacrifice that was made for sin once and for all. So the taking of
man's sins, the resulting suffering in death, and the perfection [the comple-
tion of the prerequisite requirements to qualify Him as man's Saviour) were
the actions of the Son - and the Son has thus been perfected forever. which
is also saying that the Sonship is a relationship that will be forever.
The scriptures say of the Word. that all things were created by Him.
through Him, andfor Him (Colossians 1:16). Therefore, the Word was the
possessor of all things. in position to bestow an inheritance but not to
receive one. As Christ, the Brother of man, He becomes the heir: "God ...
hm in these last days spoken 10 us by His Son, Whom He has appoil1letl heir
~ralllhings ... .. (Hebrews 1:2).
Romans 8 is a chapter that deals largely with the family relationship we
enjoy. Verses 15-17 say. "For you did nOl receive the spirit of bondage
again 10 fear. but YOlt received the Spiril of adoption by whom we cry out,
'Abba, Father '. The Spirit Himself bears wimess with our spirit that we are
children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joillt Iteirs
witlt Cltri...t, if indeed we sliffer with Him, that we may also be glorified
together. ..
This passage goes a step further than the one in Galatians 4. It not only
says that we are heirs of God, but it also says that we are joint heirs with
Christ. If Christ is the heir of God, and if His brothers are joint hcirs with
Him, what will the inheritance be?
( I) The new heaven and the new earth. (Revelation 21,22). "He who over-
comes shall inherit all things. and I will be his God and he shall be My son ..
(Revelation 21 :7).
(2) The glorification indicated in Romans 8: 17: ..... and if children, then
heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with
Ifim, that we may also be glorified together. ..
(3) To sit with Christ on His throne. "To him II'ho overcomes I will grant to
sit with Me on J{\' throne, as I also overcame and sat down with ,\< {J' Father
011 His throne" (Rcvelation 3:21).

Who can really know what glories and position of responsibility await
the brothers of Christ? On this side of eternity. we cannot fathom what that
world will be like, but we can understand the promise enfolded in these
words: whatever He is and has will be shared by those who overcome
through Him.

17
 GOD

CONCLUSION
Think back over all that has transpired in the Godhead and in the history
of His working with man in order to bring about R.-conciliation. Such giving.
such love cannot be doubted by anyone who understands these Scriptures.
Far back in our studies we asked the question: Could physical death
alone atone for man's physical and spiritual alienation from God? We have
learned that the immeasurably great sacrifice that was made by Christ was
both physical and spiritual, and that the commitment to man is as lasting as
the duration of his salvation. For eternity we will enjoy the blessings of
being heirs of God because for eternity our Brother's blood !lows between
the Father and ourselves, making us the children orGod.
This is why, even now, as faithful members in God's family. we
approach God boldly (Hebrews 4:16), confident of His love. sure of our
acceptance with Him, because our Brother's love speaks for us from the
right hand of the Father. Our salvation is secured; His watchful care over
us, day by day, is also secured.
What thell shall we S{{I' to these things? (lGod isfor us. II'ho call be
against liS? He who ,lid not spure His own Son, bllt de/iwred Him "I'
for liS all, how shall Ile 110/ wilh /lim also jree(11 give liS aI/things?
Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justi-
fies. Who is he who condemllS? It is Christ who died. elm/fllrthermore
is also risen. who is even at the right hand 0.( God, who also makes illler-
cession .for liS. Who shall separate liS from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation. or distress. or persecution. or famine. or nakedness. or peril.
or sword?
As it is writtell: "For YOllr sake we are killed all dC{I' long: We are
accoutlled as sheep for the slaughter." ret in all these things we are
more than conqllerors throllgh Him who loved liS. For I alii persuaded
that neither death nor lije, nor angels. nor principalities nor powers. nor
things present l10r thillg.~ to come, 1I0r height. I/OI' depth. 1101' (I/~I ' othel'
created thing, shall he lIhle to separate liS from the love c?l God which is
in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31-39).
And in response to such love, will not our own love grow to a full maturity
of giving ourselves. without reserve. to Him? Will we not also want to share
this swcctcst lovc stol)' with those of the world who do not know it yet? ,,.

Betty Burton Choate, wife of JC. Choate, is the author of JESUS CHRIST THE
ETERNAL SACRIACE from which this and the previous lessons were taken.
18
 GOD
We preach the love of God
when we preach God's command-
ments. God does not forbid us any-
thing that would be good for us. He
gave us His Son. What would He
withhold that we should want? He
commands us to do nothing except
what is best for us to do. He forbids
nothing except what would harm us.
His law is a law oflove. His revela-
tion of the law or the Gospel to us is
a manifestation of His love.
We preach the IO\'e of God
when we preach the cross. God so
loved that He gave the only gift that
could really cost Him anything. In
the outstretched arms of Jesus, we
see the breadth of God's love. In
the Son's nail-pierced hands and
feet, we see the pain the Father will-
ingly suffered for us. The cross
19
proclaims the horror of sin, the
depth of God's wrath against iniqui-
ty, and the depravity to which man
can sink. But above all else, it
trumpets the love of God. "God
demonstrated His love toward liS in
that while we were still sinners
Christ died/or us" (Romans 5:8).
We preach tbe love of God
when we preacb His mercy and
forbearance. His gift of love was
given so we could be saved from
our sins. "fie has no/ dealt with liS
according to our sillS, Nor punished
liS according to (Jur iniquities"
(Psalm 103: 10). He is compassion-
ate and gl1lcious, slow to anger. and
abounding in mercy. Unrepentant
sinners need to hear about the wrath
God. lest they suppose that God can
be mocked and they can reap some
 GOD

crop other than the corruption they of the world. When our holiness is
have sown. But terri tied sinners, sullied by open sin. the name of
despairing sinners, men nnd women God is blasphcmed among ~he
who have renched the end of their pagans because of us. We are to be
rope. need to hear of the merc), of merciful as God is merciful. If the
God. lest they continue in sin world does not see His mercy in us,
because they have no hope of in whom may they see it? We are
redemption or of the possibility of to love as God loves. When we do,
change. God does not want anyone people see our good works and glo-
to perish. That is the good news rifY God. When they cry to God for
that makes the Gospel what it is. help, and we help them because of
We preach the love of God God, they learn that God is love.
when we preach God's nature and Let us not neglect any means of
attributes. "God made the world preaching the love of God. 'l'
and everything." "God is greal, God
is good." The smallest child learns Cecil May, Jr., Is Director of the
School of Preaching at Faulkner
these things, and also early learns, University In Montgomery, Alabama,
"God is love". If we do USA.
not believe in God's love,
it is not God in whom we
believe. If our understand-
ing of God does not cause
A Bit of Heaven
us to love. it is not God we EveryC)newas meant to share
understand. If we say we God'sallo.abldlng love and care;
know God, whom we have He saw that we would need
not seen. yet have no love to know
for people. whom we have A waytp, let these feeU.,g$ ' ~hoW,
S~ God made hugs a sp"Clal sign
scen. we lie (I John 4:20).
And s~bol of Rls lov, (jlvlne,
It is not God we know. A Circle of ouropenanns
We preach the love To holdJl1love and keep,out harm.
of God when we do good One simple hug can db Us part
to those in need. God To warm and cheer another's
chose our hands to be His heart.
hands to minister His love A hug's a bit of heaven above
to others. just as He chose That sIgnifies God's perfect love.
our mouths to be I-I is
-JIIIWoH
mouth to tell His love to
others. We arc the light
20
 THE WORD OF GOD

Without appealing to Scripture Is it really a reliable book? Is it

to make my point, I want to say
that, with all of my heart, I believe
that our entire relationship with
God, including our hope of heaven,
depends primarily upon our anitude
toward the truth of God' s Word.
I feel compelled to mention this
as often as possible because it is
becoming more and more evident
that more and more of us are trifling
with truth.
I have come to believe that one
of the reasons why this is true is that
many of us have not made up our
minds about the Bible.
really the inspired Word of God?
Does it mean exactly what it says,
or can we disregard some of it? Is it
outdated?
Inasmuch as this is the book
that tells us about heaven and our
eternal destiny, it would seem that
we should give our Bibles serious
thought and seek to answer all of
these questions. But often we do
not!
Why? ,}
Jack W. Carter works with the church
of Christ in Castle Rock, Colorado,
USA.

In aUholleatyJ does thlsdescrip~lonfltyCt~? If, s9~ only. y~u

~n .provide the answer to the searching qU8Stfon~ "Why?" And
qnlyyou car'turn to the Scriptures, giving them tb"tJ'f11~and can-
slderatlonto prove to you that they arewhattli~Y~lillnt~o':be.
H you live without the guidance of the Bible, yOlclrllfe wlllb.e
Immeasurably less than It should have been -and ~otonIY)'1i'l
you be the loser but you will fall all who comeun~er 'yC)urlnfJli-.
ence.
H you die \Vlthout the guidance of God's.Word. you will die
wlthQut hope, fQr~ Ufe void of tru,~plrltuality Is 'a "'ewlthout
pr()mh~e orexpectltion of a~Yihlng good. ' ..
Whatprice are·you choosing to pay- pem~Pllmerely through.
",@gle~' 9tapati'1Y -for your lack of knowledge?
"Thewoids,that I speak to you are spirit, and,tbfiyate)lfff"MQhl1
6:63).
21
 THE WORD OF GOD

Modem Man "s.

God's Word
Rick Cunningham
Every generation breeds a crop
of "modem men". Modem men are
those who think they know more
than every generation before them.
They hold the past in contempt.
They believe themselves to be wise.
If only (hey could be in control.
everything would be perfect.
Modern men are intrigued by
the novel. New ideas. new meth-
ods, new approaches are all so
appealing. Modern thinkers seem to
take into consideration up-to-the-
minute wisdom. To them, old ways
failed because information was
unavailable, undeveloped, outmod-
ed, outdated, or obsolete.
Modernists have given us mod-
em an (contrasted with the works of
Michelangelo), modern music
(compared with the music of
Beethoven), and modem literature
(in contrast to the writings of
Shakespeare). But worst of all,
modernists have sought to replace
the Word of God with man's own
pale philosophical ideas.
God's Word is old; it does not
change with the times. It does not
consider the modern trends. It
stands as a rock against man's fickle
ways. And thank God it does!
God's Word is our only true source
of wisdom in a world infatuated
with its ever-changing "modern
ways".
Remember Proverbs 30:5,6:
"Every word of God is flawless; he
is a shield (0 (hose who take rejilge
in him. Do not add to his words. or
he will rebuke you and provc you a
liar. ..
God and His Word never
change. There we will find stability
in an ever-changing world. ~
Rick Cunningham Is the preacher for
the Main Street congregation In Big
Spring, Texas, USA.

Every day let God say something to you through His Word.
Every day say something to God through prayer.
Every day say something to someone for God.
Every day do something for someone for God.
- Clarence Deloach

22
 Romans 3:21--31
Jerry Bates

I. What served as a witness to the

righteousness of God? (v. 21 )
2. Through whom can a person be made just
or righteous? (v. 22)
3. Is there a difference between the Jew and Gentile?
Why? (vs. 22,23)
4. What does it mean to be justified and what is the means
of this justification? (v. 24)
5. Who became a propitiation for us, and what does it
mean to be a propitiation? (v. 25)
6. According to verse 26 what was the purpose of God in
sending Jesus Christ?
7. Can any man boast about how good he is?
(v. 27)

8. How can we be justified? (v. 28)

9. What did Paul mean when he said that God was the
God of both the Jews and Gentiles? (v. 29)
10. What is the means by which both Jews and Gentiles
might be justified? (v. 30
II. What does faith do to the law? (v. 31)
12. What is the point of this whole section in regards to
man's salvation?

(See im.'ide of buck cO\'er for ullswers.)

23
 Ut now the righteousness of God apart from the law

B is reveal edt being witnessed by the Law and the

Prophets t 22 even the righteousness of God t
through faith in Jesus Christt to all and on all who believe.
For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God t 24 being justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus t 25
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood t through
faith t to demonstrate His righteousness t because in His for-
bearance God had passed over the sins that were previous-
ly committed t 26 to demonstrate at the present time His
righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the
one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what
law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 There-fore
we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the
deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is
He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles
also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circum-
cised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith?
Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Romans 3:21-31 - New King James Version

NOTE:
This passage shows that neither Jew nor Gentile is justified
by his own goodness, and that apart from the shedding of the
blood of Christ. there is no justification. When we are washed in
Christ's blood, there is no place for boasting of having merited
our sa1vation. or of being saved through the value of our own
works. All are saved through faithful obedience to the Law of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

24
 EVIDENCES
N(}(/Ili FlfJIiI/
OwenD. Olbrl~ht
The flood that is mentioned in
the Bible is sometimes called
"Noah's flood" because it took place
in the days of Noah (Genesis 6-8).
Jeslls spoke concerning it (Matthew
24:37-39; Luke 17:26. 27) and others
wrote about Noah (Isaiah 54 :9 ;
Ezekiel 14:14,20; Hehrews 11:7; I
Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5). According
to the Bible, Noah was a real person
who buill an ark to save himself and
25
,.
his family from the flood which God
brought upon the earth because of
the rampant sins of humanity.
Recent Discovery
An article by Randolph E
Schmid of the associated press
appeared in the Arkallsas Democrat
Guzelle. "Evidence of ~rea( .flood
fOlllld ill se(l (~(rTII,.key. .. September
13. :2000, p. 3A. The article begins,
"Artifacts found at the bottom of the
 EVIDENCES

Black Sea provide new evidence type built 7,000 years ago, evidence
that humans faced a great flood, of a culture in that area before the
perhaps that of the biblical Noah, flood.
thousands years ago." Ancient Reports
Most of the news media over-
Many of the cultures around the
looked this discovery, a discovery
world have records of a great flood.
that adds evidence to the records of
"Traditions regarding a disastrous
many Middle Eastern cuhures and
flood that occurred long ago are
the Bible that the flood was an his-
handed down by many people.
toric event.
Isolated tribes in all parts of the
Undersea explorer Robert
world have been found to have such
Ballard reported concerning this
traditions.
recent discovery, "Remnants of
..... Thc Hebrews, Assyrians,
human habitation were found in
and Babylonians who lived within
more than 300 feet of water about
the area of the Tigris-Euphrates
12 miles otTthe coast of Turkey.
basin, all had traditions of a great
"Fredrik Hiebert of the
flood. These narratives stated the
University of Pennsylvania, chief
purpose of the Flood to be punish-
archaeolo'g ist from the Black Sea
ment because the world was full of
project, said from the ship, 'This
violence, but the Hebrew account
find represents the first concrete
remained simple and credible.
evidence for the occupation of the
whereas the other accounts became
Black Sea coast prior to the flood ... '
complex and fanciful." Donald Cba-
Ballard had studied freshwater pin Boardman, The International Diction-
shells along the Black Sea coast that ary of the Dible, Merrill C. Tenney editor,
dated 7,000 years and older, and (Grand Rapids. Mlcb.: Zondervan Pub·
saltwater shells that dated 6.500 lublnll House. 1987). p. 356.
years ago. He concluded that there
was a "sudden and dramatic change
Conclusion
The recent discovcry in the
from a freshwater lake to a salt
Black Sea by the Pennsylvania
water sea about 7,000 years ago."
which would have been brought archaeological team adds to the
mountain of evidence that a great
about because of a great flood.
"And we know that as a result flood at one time occurred. New
discoveries continue to support the
of thot flood a vast amount of land
accuracy of Biblical accounts. \~
went under water." Collapsed
human structures were found in a
Owen D. Olbrlcht Is a preacher of the
valley under the sea that were of the Gospel In Sherwood, Arkansas, USA.
26
 EVIDENCES

Iraq in the Bible

Israel is the nation most often mentioned
in the Bible, but, do you know which nation
is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not
the name that is used in the Bible. The
names used there are Babylon, Land of
Shinar and Mesopotamia.
The word Mesopotamia means "between
the two rivers", or more exactly between the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq
means "country with deep roots". Indeed Iraq
is a country with deep roots and is a very sig-
nificant country in the Bible. Here's why.
1. Eden was in Iraq (Genesis 2:10-14).
2. Adam and Eve were created in Iraq
(Genesis 2:7,8).
3. Satan made his first recorded appearance in Iraq (Genesis 3:1-6).
4. Nimrod established Babylon, and the Tower of Babel was built in
Iraq (Genesis I 0:8-9; 11: 1-4).
5. The confusion of the languages took place in Iraq
(Genesis 11 :5-11).
6. Abraham came from a city in Iraq (Genesis 11 :31; Acts 7:2-4).
7. Isaac's bride came from Iraq (Genesis 24:3-12).
8. Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq (Genesis 27:42-45; 31 :38).
9. The first world empire was in Iraq (Daniel I: I ,2; 2:36-38).
10. The greatest revival in history was in a city in Iraq (Jonah 3).
II. The events ofthe book of Esther took place in Iraq.
12. The book of Nahum was a prophecy against a city in Iraq.
No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associ-
ated with it than Iraq. Who would have guessed! 'J'
- Selected
27
 SALVATION

Its the Set

of the Sail
that
Determines
the (ourse
Mike Sinapiades
"With Prayer atthe Prow,
the Bible at the Rudder,
and Christ at the Helm,
our daily Devotional life
will help us weather
every storm."

I was brought up in the biblical city of Thessalonica, Greece. the city

was built amphitheatrically by the slopes of Mount Chortiates. cradled by
the waters of the large gulfin front of her.
I was always amazed to see sailing ships moving forward, even though
the winds were actually blowing against them. It took me a number of years
to understand thc principle that if is file sef of fhe sails fhat determines the
course!
Is this not the same principle for the Christian life? Not evcry day do we
have smooth sailing. and neither do all things come upon us in the way we
want them to comc. Many people often complain. "Life is not fair." while
othcrs contend that life has more sorrow than happiness. Especially is the
latter true, since the Word of God points out, ·'Man that is horn ofa woman is
of/ell' d{~)'s. (lnd/1I11 of troubles" (Job 14:1). Amidst the sin and turmoil all
arollnd liS, how is a Christian to guide his life against the ncgativc"windsT

28
 SALVATION
Please read again carefully the
l\uotation at the beginning of this
article. What is the basic message?
It is simply this: ..... Ihe way (~r man
is 1101 ill himse(f: II is 1101 ill man
who walks 10 direct his own sleps"
(Jeremiah 10:23). For those who
believe that the Bible is the inspired
Word of God, these words con finn
man's inability to successfully sail
through this life alone. Any person
who will start by himself, making
the tragic mistake of a self-sustained
pilgrimage through the toils and
stonns of life, will assuredly make a
shipwreck.
It is a fact of life that storms
and toils will come upon us, just as
opposing winds often come against
the sailing ship. However. this does
not hinder the captain of that vessel
in its onward progress. because he
knows how to set the sails to tum
the wind to his own purpose. In the
same way, we Christiuns must learn
to set our priorities, our desires, our
dreams and aspirations is such a
way that the Captain of our "ship",
bcing greater than ourselvcs and
greater than the contrary and unfa-
vorable conditions of lile, will bring
us Home safely! - ed that keeping a Bible near your
The sailing ship. with its sails
properly adjusted, goes in the direc-
tion the captain desires. Man is a
free moral agent, and has the right
to select the direction of his life -
right or left. But it must be remcm-
29
bered that he is ultimately responsi-
ble for his choices, as well as the
present and the eternal conse-
quences of those choices. Man
should be wise to follow the point-
ing linger of God; for if he chooses
to chan his course alone in this life,
he will fail eternally. <}
Mike Sinaplades works with the
church of Christ In Jacksonville,
Arkansas, USA.
Saved by tbe Bible
Ten days ago, Pfc. Brendon
Schweigart. 12. was on a mission to
recover a tank that had broken down
in Baghdad, Iraq. Upon reaching the
tank. he was struck in the chest by a
sniper's bullet. Fortunately for
Schweigart, the bullet became
embedded in a Bible he carried in
his shin pocket. The Word of God
had quite literally saved his life!
Mr. Schweigan's experience
reminds me of a passage in the
Bible. "Wherefore lay (Ipart all
jilthiness and superfluity of naughti-
ness. llIu/ receive with meekness the
engr(~/ied word. which is able 10
sal'!! )'our sOllls" (James 1:21).
Ptc. Brendon Schwcigan learn-
heart can literally save your life.
But more important than that. by
keeping .1 Bible near your hean \'ou
will ,lIso be able to sio p the att;cks
of the devil and will save your soul.
- Steve Higginbotham
 SALVATION
TIu: Wf)xier ifCf)1fYt1'Jif)x,
A. R. Holton
Man is the only being of God's
creation that has remorse for sin.
He is the only being of God's
creation that is aware of the mystery
and wonder of his own spirit.
He is the one being to which
the Holy Spirit can bear witness.
Man is the one being in cre-
ation who can be "converted".
What is conversion?
To tum from doubt to faith is to
be converted.
To tum from death in sin to life
in Christ is to be converted.
To be converted, then, is one of
the great mysteries of man's exis-
tence and, at the same time, it is the
deepest reality that man knows.
To turn from an existence of
selfish living - even sinful living -
to a life elevated by goodness, self-
denial, and righeousness, patterned
after God, is a distinctly human priv-
ilege. Such conversion is undeniable
testimony of the spirit within man
that is made in the image of God, as
the Scriptures declare: "So God cre-
ated man in His own image. 111 the
image of God He created him. male
and female. He created them"
(Genesis 1:27).
The converted soul is covered
by the blood of Christ, according to
30
Acts 22: 16: "Arise and be baptized.
and wash aWC{I' your sins, calling on
the name of the Lord" And "if we
walk in the light as He is in the
light. we have fellowship with one
another. and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all
sin" (1 John 1:7).
Cleansed by that blood, we are
able to go into the presence of God
th~ Father. Yes, we stand amazed at
the possibilities of an hour of wor-
ship. We are humbled that God will
grant to sinners the privilege of call-
ing Him "Father", and of praying to
Him through His Son's name.
We stand amazed at the human
spirit in making decisions for God
and for things high and noble.
May we never lose the sense of
wonder and of the mystery of human
life on this earth. And may we never
lose the sense of awe that the Eternal
Spirit - that Power Who is able to
sustain the entire universe - deigns
to reach down to the speck that is
called "Earth". to the infinitesimally
smaller speck that is "me" and to
allow me to be His child.
May we never lose the aware-
ness that this is God's world and
that we belong to Him and that we
shall go at last into His presence. 'l'
 SALVATION

A Divorce of Faith and Works

Stephen Seibert

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but

does not have works? Can faith save him? ... Faith by itself, if it does nClt
have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have
works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my
faith by my works.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe - and tremble! But do you want to know, 0 foolish man, that faith
without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac
his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his
works, and by works faith was made perfect? ... You see then that a man
is justified by works. and not by faith only .... For as the body without the
spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:14-26).

There has been a great deal of
effort. over the years, to drive a
wedge between faith and works.
Preachers on TV and radio, in books
and newspaper articles. affirm
authoritatively that man is saved at
the point of faith and that no acts of
obedience ("works") are required in
order to have our sins forgiven.
Now, masses of people consid-
er themselves children of faith, liv-
ing in a "single-parent" home. spiri-
tually. It can be seen in the surveys
as large numbers of people admit
high levels of confidence that they
will be going to Heaven, despite
lives that exhibit an extreme level of
disregard for what God hus said
clearly in Scripture.
But, in the Bible, Faith and
Obedience are partners - married!
31
The marriage is such a perfect union
that faith and acts of obedience are
used interchangeably. In a sense,
"the two have become one", just as
the Scriptures describe the union
between a man and his wife.
For instance, Romans 5: I tells
us that we are "justified by faith ",
But James 2:24 says that we are
"justified by works and not faith
on(v", Similarly, Acts 10:43 says,
.. Whoever believes in Him will
receive remission of sins. .. while
Acts 2:38 instructs people to
"repent and let evel)'one (?fyoll be
baptized in the name ofJe.Hls Chrisl
./01' the remission c?fyoZlr sins.... ..
Baptism, one of the acts of obe-
dience. shared such a close relation-
ship to faith thut Paul used them
pretty much interchangeably. When
 SALVATION
he found something lacking in the
faith of some Ephesians, he imme-
diately questioned their baptism.
..... He said to them, 'Did you
receive the Holy Spirit when YOII
believed?' So they said to him. 'We
have not so much as heard whether
there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said
to them. 'Into what then were ),011
baptized?' (Acts 19:2,3)
Peter also saw such a close
marriage of faith and baptism that
he wrote ...... baptism doeth also
now save liS" (1 Peter 3:21).
But, now, men are working
hard to bring about the complete
divorce of faith and obedience.
Brethren. what Christ joined
together in Mark 16:16, let not man
separate! "He who believes and ;s
baptized will be saved; bllt he who
does not believe will be condemned.. ..
The point needs to be made that
faith is not a point. Faith is more of
a journey. like life itself. Faith. and
sal vation by faith. is more of a
process than a particular point one
reaches in life.
Think about birth. 1 bring this
up because those who would enter
Heaven must be "born again" (John
3:3). Birth. at first glance. seems
like a specific point in life. But we
know that birth is actually a process.
Men are constantly debating
about when. during that birth pro-
cess. the fetus becomes a person.
They are looking lor a magic point
32
so that they can perform abortions
up to that point. So, they make their
own definitions about when "life"
begins. But you and I know that it
is a waste of time to try to pick apart
that sacred process of birth and
insert man-made distinctions. And
what is the goal of those man-made
distinctions? To bring to an end the
work of God before it is completed!
In just this way, many evange-
lists are trying to make the new
birth a point rather than a process.
With their man-made definitions
about when "faith" begins. they
seek to terminate the process before
the new birth is complete.
Just as doctors have learned to
circumvent the natural birth process
and use a Caesarean section in order
to avoid labor and the final stages of
the birth process, many preachers
hope to perform a Caesarean and
avoid having their converts go
through the final stages of the spiri-
tual birth process (such as baptism).
The divorce of faith and works.
A spiritual abortion or Caesarean.
Either way you want to look at it,
men are leading people away from
God's design and purpose for their
lives.
.. What God has joined togeth-
er. let not mall separate!" (Matthew
19:6). <}
Stephen Seibert preaches the Gospel
to the church of Christ in Hillsboro,
Alabama, USA.
 SALVATION

Is Salvation Forever?
Bill Nicks
In onc scnse. s.1lvation is forever and cannot be cancelled. "For hy one
l~(kl'ing lie has pel:fected forever those II'ho are being sanctified" (Hebrews
10:14).
However. if a person. though a member of the church. backslides. like the
Israelites. he will miss heaven as surely as the Israelites missed the promised
land. God was "angry with those who sinned. whose corpses fell in the
wilderness ". and swore "Ihal Ihey would 110t enter his rest ". for they did not
obey (Hebrews 3-170. "Beware. brethren. lest there be in any ofyou an evil
heart l?fllnbe/iefin departingfrom the living God" (Hebrews 3: 12).
The Israelites' example of backsliding is given in I Corinthians 10: 1-12
as a warning to us. "Now all these things happened to them as examples.
and they were written for 0111' admonition. IIpon whom the ends (~r the ages
have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (I
Corinthians 10:11,12).
There are some 2500 warnings in the Bible against God's children falling
away from Him. Consider one example from the Old Testament: "WI,ell a
rigltteous man IUrlls from I,is righteollSlless and commits iniquity. and' lay a
stumbling block before him, lie sllall die ". in his sin. and his righteousness
which he has done shall not be remembered ". "(Ezekiel 3:20).
Look at this example from the New Testament: "Pursue peace with all
people. and holiness. without which no one will see the Lord: looking careful-
ly lesl anyone fall short of II,e grace 0/ God; lest all)' root of bitterness
springing up cause trouble. and by this mall)' become defiled" (Hebrews
12:14,15). Another example: "For if. after tire), Irave escaped tire pollutions
of the world through the knowledge ofthe Lord and SOl'ior Jesus Christ. the)'
are agaill elltangled in tlrem and overcome, the lalter end is worse /01' tl.em
tlran tl.e beg/nlling .•• But it has happelled 10 them according to the true
proverb: 'A dog returns to his OlVn vomil. . and, 'a sow, having washed. 10
her wal/owing in the mire'" (2 Peter 2:20,22). The remedy for backsliding is
found in Peter's final words of encouragement: "Bul grow ill the grace and
knowledge (~f our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3: 18). ~

Bill Nicks, former missionary to Africa and Trinidad In the West Indies, now lives
In Waycross, Georgia, USA.

33
 THE CHURCH

TIlE KIN6DOM OF SOD

and the things which concern
the Lord Jesus Christ
Sunny David
In the last chapter of the book set up a kingdom and that it would
of Acts, and in its last verse, we stand forever. He must have said
read that the apostle Paul was "... that later Christ, Himself, confirmed
preaching the kingdom of God and to the apostles that the kingdom
teaching things which concern the would be established in their life-
Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:31). time on earth (Mark 9: I). Christ
Paul was held as a prisoner in also explained that kingdom of
Rome, but he was permitted to heaven was His church which He
dwell in a rented house with the sol- was going to begin or build
diers guarding Him. He was also (Matthew 16: 18,19). And Pau I
allowed to receive and meet people must have told his visitors that to
in his house. Paul used this
opportunity to preach to visi-
tors about the kingdom of
God and about the things
which concern Jesus Christ.
Undoubtedly, these two things
must have been very impor-
tant in the life of the apostle.
The record says that he stayed
in prison for almost two years
and, during that time, he
preached the same things over
and over again to all those who
came to him.
Concerning tbe kingdom
of God. Paul must have told
his listeners, among other
things, what the prophet
Daniel had said in Daniel 2:44,
that the God of heaven would
34
 THE CHURCH
this spiritual kingdom the Lord adds
those who are saved (Acts 2:47;
Colossians I: 13,14). He must also
have helped them to understand that,
when the end comes, Christ will
deliver the kingdom to God the
Father, so that God may be all in all
(I Corinthians 15 :24-38). To enter
the kingdom of God, Paul must have
told them that one must be born
again, because the King and the
Savior had said, "Unless one is born
of water and the Spirit. he cannot
enter the kingdom o/God" (John 3:5)
Further, in teaching about the
things which concern the Lord
Jesus Christ, the apostle must have
told his audience the most wonder-
ful story of the miraculous birth of
the Son of God (Matthew I: 18-25
and 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20; John
1:1,14). Surely, he explained
about the sinless life of Christ on
earth, that although He was tempted
in every way just as we are, yet He
committed no sin (Hebrews 4: \5).
Paul would have told them of
the wonderful works our Lord per-
formed and of the powerful lessons
He taught. He must also have
described in detail His propitiatory
death for sinners, and how He was
buried, and was resurrected after
three days. Paul would have
declared that before going back to
heaven, Christ had told His disci-
ples to go into all the world and
preach His gospel (I Corinthians
35
15: \-4), to every person, and that
those who believe and are baptized
will be saved (Matthew 28: 18-20;
Mark 16: 15, 16). No doubt, the
apostle, lastly, must also have
warned his visitors that Christ will
come back on the last day, on the
day of the judgment, when He will
judge all people of all nations
according to His word (Acts
17:30,31; John 12:48). Paul would
have said that on that "day of the
Lord" all will be made alive by His
glorious power; and those who have
followed His will on earth shall be
caught up in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air, and thus they will
always be with Him in His heavenly
kingdom (I Thessalonians 4: 13-18).
Of course, ever since becoming
a Christian, Paul had dedicated his
entire life to the preaching concern-
ing the kingdom of God and the
things which concern the Lord Jesus
Christ. Why would this have been
the message which he felt debtor to
preach to all who would hear him?
Because Paul believed that God's
kingdom is the beautiful and perfect
place of salvation, and that the Lord
Jesus Christ is the only way by
which one can enter that heavenly
place: "I am the way. the truth. and
the life. No one comes 10 the Father
excep' ,hrollgh Me" (John 14:6;
Philippians 3:7-14). <}
Sunny David preaches the Gospel in
New Deihl. India.
 THE CHURCH
Ingredients of a Great Church
Clarence Deloach, Jr.
What does God want the church
to be? What is the church about? A
study of I Thessalonians reveals
God's pattern for the ideal church.
Interestingly, nothing is said about
numbers, goals, programs, preach-
ers, budgets, staffs, or faci Iities.
Instead, it is the spiritual qualities of
the church that are noted.
I. It was a called church. In
chapter I :4,5, II Paul said they were
"chosen, predestinated" unto the
adoption of sons - according to the
purpose of His will. The church
was no accident, but was the result
of God's eternal purpose. Ours is a
holy calling according to His pur-
pose and grace, to become con-
formed to the likeness of His Son
and our Brother - Jesus Christ.
The church is God's called, cho-
sen, and elected! How, though, were
the Thessalonians called? Paul
answers in 2 Thessalonians 2:14,
'" Y011 were called by tile gospel. "
We have been called out of sin -
that's salvation; we have been called
unto holiness - that's sanctification
(I Thessalonians 1:4:6).
2. It was an exemplary
church. '"Ye became followers of
liS. and of the Lord" (I Thessaloni-
ans I :6). They modeled their lives
after the ministry of Jesus Christ.
The word "followers" is from a
36
word that means "to mimic". Theirs
wasn't just talk, but action.
The church, the spiritual body of
Christ, is to mimic Christ - love as
He loved: teach as He taught: serve
as He served. It wasn't easy for the
Thessalonians, for they were formed
in affliction, yet they continued in
joy. Their lives were examples to
the believers throughout the region.
They were serious about both living
and spreading the Gospel.
3. It was an allticipalitlg
church. They turned from idols to
serve God and to wait for His Son's
appearing (I Thessalonians I: 10).
While serving, they were waiting,
and while waiting, they were serving.
Anticipation of Jesus' return will
accomplish lwo things: (I) It will
keep us from being too "this world"
oriented; and (2) it will motivate
godly living and diligent service. II
will create an urgency in our work.
Let us be like the church in
Thessalonica: chosen and called.
thus assured of our redemption in
Christ; exemplary, thus imitating
Christ in life and mission; and
anticipating the Lord's return, let's
be motivated and urgent about our
business. ,}
Clarence DeLoach, Jr. works with the
Willow Ave. Church of Christ In
Cookeville, Tennessee, USA.
 THE CHURCH

1!l\roth£rhooa
Jimmy Jividen
Every child of God is my broth- treating him like a brother, I am
er or sister. If God is his Father, honoring Christ. Jesus said: "Tru{v
then I am his brother. I do not I say to yo II. to the extent that you
choose him because he is desirable; did it to one of these brothers of
I just recognize him because he has Mine. even the least of them. you
been chosen by God. did it to /lie" (Matthew 25:40).
He, like I. is an important and God's children are special peo-
necessary part of the Family. He is ple. We hold them in high esteem
not to be put out or put down. We and give them special treatment
arc not to make him feel that we because "they are brethren" (J
"dutifully" put up with him. Paul Timothy 6:2). ,}
used the analogy of the physical
Jimmy Jividen Is 8 writer and preach-
body to show the importance of er living In Abilene, Texas, USA.
even the weakest and
most unattractive child of
God: ..... II is milch Irller You Did It Unto Me
that the members of the An agonizing cry from the valley below,
body which seem 10 be A sinsick heart, a low bent soul,
weaker are necessary: Who will hear, and who will go
and those members of the Who will venture to the valley below?
body. which we deem less Their cries beat against the Church's walls,
honorable. on these we An eerie echo drifts down its halls;
bestow more abundant It takes a caring heart to hear the calls
honor ..... (I Corinlhians To answer the need of the wailing walls.
12:22). To your own self, please be true,
I love my brother Let your love of God do the talking for you,
because he is family. If And when you're finished. you will know
he is discouraged, I exhort You helped rescue them from below.
him. If he is in need, I Remember this peom and forgot it not -
share with him what I Help your brother remove each dark blot.
have. If he docs wrong, I And in the end, you will see
tell him his fault. If he is You did it unto them, You did it unto me!
hurting, I care. That's - Earl W. Nester
brotherhood! I know, by
37
 WORSHIP
Worship
Charles E. Cobb
Men are worshipful creatures.
They will worship something. Jesus
indicated that there would be "true
worshipers" (John 4:23,24). It fol-
lows, therefore, that there would
also be false worshippers. Jesus
pointed out the distinction and made
it clear how true and false worship-
pers could be distinguished from
38
one another. True worshippers wor-
ship the Father "in spirit and in
truth ". False worshippers may wor-
ship the Father or some created
"god", but their worship will not be
according to the truth. The truth is
the Word of God. One is a false
worshiper; therefore. if he does not
worship according to the directions
 WORSHIP
given in the Word of God. Jesus
said, "In vain they do worship Me... ..
(Matthew 15:9). These people wor-
shiped. They even worshiped the
Lord. But, their worship, Jesus said,
was vain because they were teaching
the doctrines of men.
Though true worship has been
conducted by faithful Christians for
many years, yet there are those
today who do not seem to know the
"what" or the "how". Worship, as a
result, has become a "catch-all" for
whatever things men want to add to
it. Emotionalism has become so
rampant among some religious
groups that the people of God are
becoming tainted with it. Shouting,
clapping, waving hands, (even
tongue-speaking with some) are
having an impact upon the church.
When this emotional outpouring is
not taking place, some decide that
the worship is lacking in spirit
(excitement, which they deem
essential). The worship, they say, is
dry, dull, boring, and needs a resur-
rection.
Worship is bowing down before
God (literally and figuratively), a
recognition of God's awesome
power and majesty. Worship is a
giving of oneself to God - an offer-
ing made by a priest of God, a
Christian. Worship is the obser-
vance and action of required ele-
ments - singing, pmying, teaching,
communion (the Lord's Supper) and
39
the offering (sacrificially) of our
means. One may do some of these
things, or even all of them, without
having his spirit involved and he will
fail to worship acceptably. Every
Christian needs to be aware of this.
Worship is not just making a lot
of noise! Those who become so
involved in loud, unbecoming revel-
ry are led to think by their leaders
that they are really "having a great
meeting". Their departures from the
truth about worship as set forth in
God's revelation show the absurdity
of what they do. Wildly "speaking
in tongues," mass confusion, hyster-
ics (such as that which seems to
accompany rock bands) and the like,
distracts, detracts, and destroys the
very spirit of worship. It violates the
instruction of the Lord, "Let all
things be done decently and ;n
order" (I Corinthians 14:40).
From the many Scriptures found
in the Bible about worship, it can be
clearly seen that worship is to be
directed toward God; it is to be
devout; it is to be reverent; it is to be
according to the truth; it is to be
offered from the depths of one's
being (spirit), motivated by faith and
love, and unmixed with the false
ideas or mysticism of men. It is for
the praise of God. not for the enter-
tainment of the worshiper. Ii'
Charles E. Cobb Is the editor of
Tennessee Valley Christian, and he
lives in Scottsboro, Alabama, USA.
 WORSHIP
Keep the Worship Simple
Hershel Dyer
11erhaps you have had this
experience. You invited a friend to
attend one of our worship services.
He or she came, and afterwards you
asked, "Well, what did you think?"
After some hesitation the visitor
said, "I don't know exactly how to
put this, but your worship services
seemed a little strange. I don't
mean any offense, but I'm accus-
tomed to a choir doing most of the
singing, and I surely do miss the
organ - or at least a piano."
With such a reaction (and some-
times it may be much more critical
than the foregoing), you feel a little
embarrassed and even inclined to
apologize for the simplicity of our
worship. Don't Do It!!
The simple worship of the early
church was quite surprising to
pagan visitors. Indeed, this very
factor occasioned the enmity of
unbelievers.
"Another circumstance that irri-
tated the Romans against the
Christians was the simplicity of
their worship, which resembled in
nothing the sacred rites of any other
people. They had no sacrifices,
temples, images, oracles, or sacer-
dotal orders: and this was sufficient
to bring upon them the reproaches
40
of an ignorant multitude, who imag-
ined that there could be no religion
without these" (Mosbeim's Eccle-
siastical History, page 30).
When we confine the acts or
items of our religious devotion and
exercise to those taught and exem-
plified in the New Testament, the
modern religious world does think
we are indeed strange. However,
such visitors today rarely accuse
and react as some did in the days of
old Rome.
"The simplicity of the primitive
worship, contrasted with the pomp
of paganism, was striking. It was
concluded by the heathen that they
who had neither altar, victim, priest,
or sacrifice, must be atheists, and
without God in the world" (Haweis'
Church History, page 182).
The suggestion of anyone -
member or visitor - as to how we
can make our assemblies more edi-
fying and helpful, is always wel-
come. However, before we can fol-
low any person's idea we must ask,
"Does this agree with the teaching
of the New Testament?" It is God
Whom we worship; it is He Who
must be pleased. ~
Hershel Dyer Is a gospel preacher lIv-
ing In Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
 WORSHIP

HANDCLAPPING TO SHOW APPRECIATION

Clapping to show appreciation for others has been a part of Western
culture for millennia. Since Christians are to honor each other (Romans
12: 10; Romans 13:7; I Cor. 12:23,24), certainly applause could be one way
we choose to show appreciation in appropriate circumstances. For that rea-
son, applause among Christians is common at birthdays, awards presenta-
tions at schools and other social events. The question is, should such
applause be a part of assemblies designed to praise God?
To defend applause as a part of worshipping God, it has been pointed
out that worship assemblies not only involve vertical communion with God
but horizontal communion with brethren. As a part of that horizontal com-
munion, it is reasoned, we can applaud each other.
It is absolutely true that worship assemblies involve horizontal commu-
nion, fellowship with brethren. Hebrew Christians were told to "consider
one another in order to stir lip love and good works" in the assembly
(Hebrews 10:24,25). Ephesians 5:19 tells us to "speak to one another" in
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Colossians 3: 16 says that when we sing
we are "teaching and admonishing one another ". The latter two texts, how-
ever, give us the key to this mutual edification. It is not brought about by
praising each other (though there should be occasions for that), but rather by
focusing together on "singing ... to the Lord" (Colossians 3: 16), by making
melody in our hearts "to the Lord" (Ephesians 5: 19). That expression, "to
41
 WORSHIP

the Lord", is found throughout the Old and New Testaments in reference to
worship, and it indicates a point offocus in worship.
God's people in the Scriptures have always had designated times to
meet together to focus upon prayer and praise to the Lord. Though we
greatly encourage each other in designated times of worship, it comes from
a common etTon to unite and sing and pray to the Lord, not to praise each
other. In that designated time to give praise to the Lord, applause for each
other becomes a distraction.
Some activities, such as eating meals together. are important for the
growth of the body (Acts 2:46). However, they are completely out of place
in the time that is dedicated for worship to the Lord (I Corinthians 11:22.
34). The same thing is true of applause for binhday celebrants. preachers.
mothers, fathers, grandparents. etc. While appropriate and stimulating in
some settings, it is out of place when we have come together for the purpose
offocusing on worship to the Lord.

CLAPPING TO SHOW APPROVAL DURING

PREACHING
Dave Miller quotes from the Encyclopedia Britannica in his book.
Pil~tiDg the Straits, page 238:
"When Christianity became fashionable the customs of the theater were
transferred to the churches. Paul of Samosata encouraged the congregation
to applaud his preaching by waving linen cloths. Applause of the rhetoric of
popular preachers became an established custom destined to disappear under
the influence of a more reverent spirit."
It should be obvious that applause has historically been associated with
show business rather than praising God. In our entertainment-obsessed cul-
ture, it seems that Christians should want to disassociate themselves from
that worldly current rather than move towards it.
Both the Old and New Testaments employ the same word, "Amen" to
describe how God's followers express their approval of the message. It
originally meant "firm" and came to mean "so it is, so be it" (Thayer, p.
32). While applause tends to focus attention on a performer or a speaker,
saying "Amen" focuses on the truth of the message.
Instead of expressing ourselves in a way not found in the New
Testament, but associated more often with theater and show business,
Christians should express themselves in the ancient, time-proven method
that all acknowledge to have God's approval. "Let a/l the people say.
42
 WORSHIP

Amen!" (Psalm 106:48; I Corinthians 14: 16). Sennons and prayers need to
be filled with enthusiastic yet orderly "Amens", not with applause. This
fonn of expression is found in Scripture, focuses on the message, is associ-
ated with the praise of God, and is unquestionably right. The other is not
found in the New Testament Scriptures, tends to focus on the speaker, is
associated with show business, and is highly questionable and distracting.

APPLAUSE AT BAPTISMS
One brother has stated sincerely to me, "How often have baptisms been
announced in churches, and such announcements have been met with silent
smiles. Souls have been wrested from Satan's grasp - from the dominion
of Satan to the dominion of God - saved for eternity. Yet, a church of 400
sits silent at such an announcement. Then they go home and raise the rafters
with cheering and applause every time their football team scores!
Unrestrained celebration when their football team is "saved", but quietness
when the announcement is made of newborn babes in Christ in their midst.
Isn't there something seriously wrong here?"
Though a distinction should be made between the hysteria of a football
game and the spiritual joy of Christians, the brother does make a valid point-
- that brethren are usually too reserved when witnessing a spiritual tri-
umph. And yet, is clapping the best way to express that joy? Should bap'
tisms be accompanied by drum rolls, cheers, or other fonns of celebration
seen at ball games?
The fact that an occasion of baptism may not necessarily be considered
worship gives me pause in my objections to accompanying clapping.
Perhaps such a response at a victorious spiritual event might be considered a
matter of judgment. However, because baptisms often take place within a
designated period of worship, the danger that such applause could easily
move into the worship services for the Lord make me prefer that announce-
ments of baptisms be met with enthusiastic songs of praise, either directed
or spontaneous, and with other expressions of thanksgiving, the type of
praise God has specifically requested (Hebrews 13: 15). Anything more than
this is unauthorized in the New Testament. <J'

43
 WORSHIP
What a Novel Idea!
Stephen D. Rook
"There are church musicians
who use the entire congregation as
their choir on Sunday." These
words are taken from a report filed
by Kristin E. Holmes, reporter for
Knight Ridder Nelvspapers, March
28, 2002. The headline reads:
"Churches try different worship
styles."
Of course, my use of the word
"novel" above is with tongue in
cheek. This "novel" use of congre-
gations has been characteristic of
faithful churches of Christ for 2000
years. Our "choir" has always been
all the people present for worship,
as enjoined by apostolic authority
(e.g., Ephesians 5: 19; Colossians
44
3: 16). Choirs (special singers for
church worship) were not employed
by "Christian churches" until cen-
turies after the last apostle died,
according to the Oxford Dictionary
of the Christian Church.
But back to Holmes' report.
She identified John Witvliet as the
director of the Calvin Institute of
Christian Worship at Calvin College
in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He
heads the college's program,
"Vibrant Worship, Healthy Congre-
gations: A National, Ecumenical
Worship Renewal Initiative."
According to Holmes, "Witvliet
cited examples of practical strate-
gies that have been employed by
 WORSHIP
churches to energize and deepen
their worship services. That typi-
cally means that members don't just
observe. They participate." He was
further quoted as saying. "There are
church musicians who use the entire
congregation as their choir on
Sunday, churches that are bringing
back more reading of Scripture. and
efforts to incorporate both young
and old as leaders in the service:'
Interesting, wouldn't you say?
I)erhaps those who urge upon us the
adaptation of dramatic plays, solos.
choirs, etc. (performance/spectator
worship) would do well to attend
the institute.
Holmes' report also quoted
Robert Webber. professor at North-
ern Baptist Theological Seminary
and director of its Institute for
Worship Studies: "There is no bag
of tricks that will instantly result in
vibrant worship. It requires an indi-
vidual's commitment to worship,
pray, and hear the scripture and ser-
mon. It's an inner thing that comes
from education and formation."
Well said! The "worship wars"
we hear so much about these days
are a lot about satisfying self and
not about the honor and reverence
of God. Remember Nadab and
Abihu? "They offered unalJlhorized
fire before the Lord. COlllrary to his
command. So fire came out from
the presence of the Lord and con-
sumed them and they died before
45
the Lor"" (Leviticus 10:1.2, NIV).
Then the Lord said. "Among those
II'ho approach me I will show myse((
ho~r: in the sight olallthe people I
will he "ollored" (verse 3). To
otTer as worship what is not autho·
rized is to dishonor God and reflect
upon His holiness.
JeSllS said ... BII1 in vai" do they
worship me. teaching }or doctrines
the commandments of men" (Mat-
thew 15:9), and ..... the Father seek-
eth such (true worshippers) to wor-
ship him. God is a Spirit: and they
that worship him must worship in
spirit and in truth" (John 4:23.24).
Jesus also said that God's Word is
truth (John 17: 17). True worship is
not novel. It is as old as the New
Testament. The need of the hour is
a return to Scripture for the pattern
of worship that is acceptable to
God. ~
Stephen D. Rook Is the preacher for
the South Highway 5 congregation In
Lebanon, Missouri, USA.
_. ~~.
~.Al1d at mldnighJ
l'aul'(lfrd .,siIRS
pragedaltl/' ,qng:
praises (ll1tot;od:
and the prisoners
heard themr,
(,Acts 16:3S).
 WORSHIP

• The willing giv-

er, ABRAHAM,
who offered his son
(Genesis 22:1-19).
Givers
• The big little giv-
er, THE WIDOW,
who in giving two
mites, gave all that
of
she had (Mark 12:
42-44).
• The stingy giver, SAUL, who
the
wanted to offer the spoils of the
AmaJekites (I Samuel 15: 17-23).
• The sacrificial giver, DA VID,
Bible
who refused to give that which cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24).
• The covetous givers, ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA, who held back part,
pretending to give all (Acts 5: t -II ).
• The consecrated givers, THE MACEDONIANS, who first gave of
themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8: I - 15; I 1:8,9).
• The life givers, PETER AND JOHN, who had neither silver nor gold,
but gave their lives (Acts 3: 1- I 0).
• The voluntary giver, ZACCHAEUS, who gave half his goods to feed the
poor without being asked (Luke 19: 1-19).
• The reward givers, those who gave TO BE SEEN OF MEN. They had
their only reward (Matthew 6:2).
• The unpretentious giver, THE SAMARITAN, who made no show
(Luke 10:25-37).
• The perfumed givers, THE PHILIPPIANS, whose gifts were "an odor
ofsweet smell" (Philippians 4:17-18).
• The greatest giver, GOD, who "gave his only begotten SOli. that whosoev-
er believeth on him should not perish. but have everlasting life" (John 3: 16).
Every child of God is asked to give himself first to the Lord: ..... the church-
es of Macedonia ... first gave themselves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
Then we will willingly give all that we are and have. How do you give?

-Selected
46
 DOCTRINE TO LIVE By
BONES! The valley was full
or bones! As far as the eye could
see - disconnected, dry human
bones! Gloom and helplessness
hovered over this ghastly sight.
"Death Valley" would have been an
appropriate name for this gruesome
place.
The hand of the Lord led Ezekiel
to survey the morbid and depressing
scene. The young preacher must
have been both startled and speech-
less at what he saw, but the silence
was broken when the Lord said to
him, "Son of man. can these bones
live?" (Ezekiel 37:3). The question
was surely as shocking as the scene
itself. How could Ezekiel answer
such a question? Nothing but help-
lessness was in the air. but the
prophet did finally manage to uller
the words: "0 Lord God, you know. "
The Lord then gave this young
preacher what must have seemed to
be an insurmountable task. He told
him, "Prophesy to these bOlles. alfd
sew to them. '0 dl)' bOlles. hear the
word of the Lord!' Thus says the
Lord God to Ihese bones: 'Surely I
will calise brealh to enfer infO ),011.
47
and YOIl shall live. I will pllt sinews
on yO/l and bring flesh upon yo II.
cover YOII with skin and put breath
ill you: and you shall live. Then you
shall know that I am the Lord'"
(verse 4-6). Ezekiel prophesied
(preached) over these bones with
phenomenal results.
The picture is really this: here
was a vision of God's sinful, rebel-
lious, unfaithful people who were
now spiritually dead. Could Israel
ever live again as a nation?
God's people were crushed and
carried away into Babylon where
they remained for seventy years.
The Jewish nation essentially died,
but the stench of death would be
replaced with new Ii fe and opti-
mism. The remnant was released
from captivity and was able to even-
tually return home and to new life
under the leadership of Zerubbabel,
Nehemiah. and Ezra. What do we
see in this lesson for us today?
Sin Is Lethal
Sin is the deadly enemy of the
soul. The prophet Ezekiel said, "The
soul who sillS shall die" (Ezekiel
18:20a). Paul wrote, "The wages of
 DOCTRINE TO LIVE By
sin is death ... " (Romans 6:23).
·· ... He made alive, who were dead
in trespasses and sin" (Ephesians
2: I), Paul further describes man's
condition in sin by saying, ..... YOII
were witholll Christ being aliens
from the commonwealth of Israel
and strangers fl'OlII the covenants of
promise, having no hope and with-
out God in the world" (Ephesians
2: 1,2). In that condition, souls are
"without Christ ", "no hope ", and
"without God".
The Lord says, according to
Proverbs 8:36, " ... he who sins
against me wrongs his own sOIlI; all
those who hate me love death. "
Sin Is Devastating
Even For God's People
Unless Christians are faithful
and vigilant, sin can have its devas-
tating effects. Sinning against God,
as did Israel, can leave us as dry
bones spiritually. Proverbs 14:30 tell
us, "A sound heart is life to the body,
but em,' is rottenness to the bones. "
This being true of envy, it would also
be the result of any sin (i.e. pride,
anger, lying, sexual immorality).
Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart
does good, like medicine. but a bro-
ken spirit dries the bones. "
It's a sad state when God's peo-
ple are walking as skeletons, devoid
of spiritual Ii fe. Paul speaks of
those who have "a form of godli-
48
ness, bllt deny its power" (2 Timo-
thy 3:5). Spiritual void and lifeless-
ness may be caused by several
things: lack of prayer, failing to
study God's Word. unresolved sin,
lack of gratitude, indifference con-
cerning evangelism, etc.
Restoration Needed
Restoration of life comes only
through Jesus Christ and the
Gospel. The Lord told Ezekiel and
Israel that where His Word is pro-
claimed, "Behold, 0 my people, I
will open your graves and cause
you to come up from YOllr graves,
and bring you into the land of
Israel. Then you shall know that I
am the Lord, when / have opened
your graves, 0, my people. and
brought you up from your graves. /
will Pllt My Spirit in yO/I. and you
shall live ... ,. (Ezekiel 37: 12-14).
Jesus said, according to John
10: I 0, "/ have come that they may
have life. and that they may have it
more abundantly_" Paul wrote:
"Therefore. if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things are
passed away; behold. all things
hal'e become new" (I Corinthians
5:17).
Choose life in Christ and enjoy
the fullness of His salvation! <)'
Jerry L. Davidson Is a teacher at
Heritage Christian University In
Florence, Alabama, USA.
 DOCTRINE TO LIVE By

Jesus warned about "wolves" that endan-

gered His sheep. Paul repeated this warning.
The problem in heeding such words is in recog-
nizing these "wolves". Let us consider the facts
in the case (Acts 20:29-31).

First, we need to realize that not all who teach and practice false doc-
trines are "wolves" - in the Lord's estimation. Some are misled themselves.
Like Apollos, these need correction (Acts 18:24-26). Their sincerity and
good intentions will not transform their mistaken ideas into biblical truth.
Next we must face the fact that real "wolves" will appear to be sheep.
They will not label themselves as what they actually arc. Their intentions
will be deceptively disguised or carefully hidden. In general, what can we
do in confronting and resisting these predators?
First. we can test them by the Scriptures. especially what they teach and
advocate. A "wolf' will twist truth to serve his purposes (2 Peler 3:16), so
caution is advised.
Then, we can be alert to indications of desire for power and the control
of others. Diotrophes (3 John 9) was not the last of his kind.
Finally, we can notice the "fruit" the person's life produces. Evil ways
will produce evil "fruit" sooner or later (Matthew 7: 15-20).
Specific Steps
I. Listen to what is said and check it carefully.
2. Watch what is done. "Actions speak louder than words."
3. Notice the results and effects ("'fruit"). and don't be misled.
4. Apply common sense to issues. Truth is reasonable.
5. Strengthen your own faith. It is your "shield".
6. Master the use of Scripture. It is your "sword".
7. Develop your serving skills. You will need them. 'J'
Ardron Hinton works with the Lord's church In Roosevelt, Oklahoma, USA.

49
 DOCTRINE TO LIVE By
A.L. Franks
Argument: Jesus, according to
Mark's account of the "Great
Commission", commanded His dis-
ciples, "Go ye into a/l the world
and preach the gospel 10 every
creature. He thaI believeth and is
baptized shall be saved. He that
believeth not shall be damned"
(Mark 16: 15, 16). Some argue.
"Since Jesus said. 'He Ihat believeth
not shall be damned', and didn't
add, 'he that is not baptized', shows
that baptism is not really essential.
Faith is all that really matters."
Response: What does the lost
sinner want? Salvation or damna-
tion? To whom did Jesus promise
salvation? Jesus clearly stated, "He
that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved." Who shall be saved?
"He that believeth alld is baptb!d. ..
Jesus joined the two together: faith
and baptism. What right do I have
to separate that which is joined by
Jesus?
Now, it is true that "to be
damned", one need only to "believe
not". Jesus clearly stated. "He that
believeth 1I0t shall be damned" To
say that baptism is not required for
salvation demonstrates unbelief.
Remember, also, that it is unbelief
50
that condemns. The believer
accepts the words of Jesus who said
that salvation comes to those who
believe and are baptized; the unbe-
liever says, "Salvation is for those
who believe only".
As a young boy, I recall hearing
an illustration given by Thomas B.
Warren, a Gospel preacher. Ex-
plaining the Lord's promise of sal-
vation and damnation recorded in
Mark 16: 16, he cited a parallel
statement. Brother Warren said,
"He that eateth and digesteth shall
live; he that digested not shall die."
He observed, "If one desires to live
he must eat and digest." He added,
"If one eats not, he shall die." He
then said, "It is not necessary to say,
'He that eats not and digests
not' ... You cannot digest if you do
not eat."
The obvious conclusion is that
one cannot be properly or scriptural-
ly baptized who does not believe.
Do you believe? Have you been
baptized? You should be. You
must. Faith requires it! -}
A. L. Franks Is the Editor of Magnolia
Messenger and lives in Kosciusko,
Mississippi. USA.
 DOCTRINE TO LIVE By

PREDESTINATION
Owen Cosgrove
A friend recently told me about an old man who believed adamantly
that God predestines everything that happens in the lives of men. One day
he tripped and rolled down a flight of stairs - whappety, whappety, whap-
pety- bam!
The old fellow got up and dusted himself otT. "Man, that hurt," he said.
"But since it just had to happen, I'm glad it's over with!"
The Bible speaks of predestination in the sense that Christianity was
planned and purposed, rather than being merely an accident, a coincidence,
or a kind of afterthought of God. God predetermined that man would have a
way to be saved, but He leaves it up to us to decide whether we will obey or
not. "Whosoever will" is the clear invitation of the Scriptures.
Predestination is not simply the belief that "whatever will be will be".
Only a fool would argue that whatever will be won't be, or whatever won't
be will be. The question is whether God causes everything that happens. If
God causes it, then He is at fault for all of the world's sin and rebellion, and
man is only a helpless and mindless pawn.
People say such things as, "When it's your time to go, you will go!"
That may be so in some ways, but we can do a great deal to postpone it.
Man can make a great difference in his life, either for good or for evil.
The key word in the Bible for refuting Calvinistic predestination is "if'.
If everything is predestined, there is no "if' to our part of it. Men talk about
fatalism and determinism, but nothing is more clearly taught in the Bible
than man's free moral agency.
"I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my souL"
God set up the plan for man's redemption - deliberately, consciously, and
intentionally, but it is up to man whether he wants to fit into that plan. God has
come as far as He can without overriding our will and forcing salvation upon
us. The next move is ours - it's up 10 us to hear. believe. and obey. ,}

Owen Cosgrove Is Involved In printed evangelism In many countries and preach-

es for the Northside Church of Christ in Waxahachie, Texas, USA.
51
 BLE
IND
1. Go into all the world
2. In the beginning God created
3. For God so loved the world
4. He who believes and is
5. There is no other name under
heaven given among men
6. I am the way. the truth.
and the life.
7. If you love Me.
8. Let not your heart be troubled;
9. In the beginning was
the Word.
10. There is one body and
one Spirit.
11. Be faithful until death.
12. And now why are you
waiting? Arise and
13. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a
Saviour. which is
14. Seek. and you will find;
knock. and it will be
15. Come to Me. all you who
labor and are heavy laden.
and I will
· 52
.•• Draw a line to match .••
A. and I will give you the crown
ofHfe (Revelation 2: 10).
B. keep My commandments
(John 14: 15).
C. by which we must be saved
(Acts 4: 12).
D. and preach the gospel to
every creature (Mark 16: 15).
E. No one comes to the Father
except through Me (John 14:6).
F. be baptized, and wash away
your sins (Acts 22: 16).
G. the heavens and the earth
(Genesis I: I).
H. and the Word was with God.
and the Word was God. (John I: I).
I. that He gave His only begot-
ten Son (John 3:16).
J. just as you were called in one
hope of your calling (Eph 4:4).
K. baptized will be saved (Mark
16:16).
L. you believe in God, believe
also in Me.(John 14: I).
M. opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
N. give you rest (Matt. 11:28).
O. Christ the Lord (Luke 2: II).
 CHURCH GROWTH

Misunderstandings about
Salvation
MISUNDERSTANDING I: Can I be
saved like the thief on the Cross?
No. The thief died under the Old
Law of Moses, not under the New Law of
Christ. Christ frequently forgave sins dur-
ing His personal ministry, which He had
the authority to do as one of the Godhead.
However, He has specified in His new will
- the New Testament - how people can
be saved after His death. We must remem-
ber that a will is in effect after the death of
the testator (Hebrews 9: 15-17). God tells us
when the Old Law ended (Colossians 2:14).
According to Ephesians 2: 14-16, the Law was like a wall, separating Jews and
Gentiles, and it was abolished in the Lord's death. Second Corinthians 3:14
tells us that the Old Testament was done away in Christ. We read in
Galatians 3: 23-29 that we are no longer under the Old Law. Therefore, we
must obey the directions in the New Testament if we desire to be saved today.
MISUNDERSTANDING 2: What about the people who are very
sincere but have not been baptized? Would a sincere atheist or Jew or
Muslim or pagan be saved?
Not by sincerity alone. Hebrews 5:9 says clearly that we must obey
Christ. We read in Matthew 7:21 that we must do the will of God. In John
3:5. Jesus explained that one must be born of water and the Spirit in order to
enter the kingdom of I-leaven. We read further in 2 Thessalonians I :7,8 that
God will take vengeance on those who do not obey the Gospel.
Romans 6:3.4 and Acts 22:16 show that it is through our baptism into the
death of Christ that we are cleansed by His blood. Second Timothy 2:10
explains that salvation is found only in Christ Jesus. Without Him we cannot
stand before God. but according to Romans 8: I. there is no condemnation in
Christ. Galatians 3:27 tells how we get into Him - through baptism.
However, if there is no water and no baptism. then the person is not in Christ.
Can one be saved withalll Christ? Jeslis Himselfsaid, .. / am the wa)', and the
truth. and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
53
 CHURCH GROWTH

A question for the reader: What if you are bitten by a rattlesnake and
there is no antidote? You die. The poison that kills the soul is sin. We are
bitten by the serpent of sin. The only antidote is the blood of Christ.
Without the saving power of that blood, the soul is dead.
MISUNDERSTANDING 3: What if the person is out in the desert?
The biblical case of a person being in the desert and wanting to be bap-
tized is found in Acts 8. Shockingly, they came to some water, and both
Philip and the eunuch went down into that water, and the eunuch was able to
obey his Lord in baptism! If a person genuinely wants to be baptized, he
will be able to do so. However, ifhe is simply looking for an excuse not to
obey the commands specifically laid down in the New Testament, one
excuse is as good as another.
MISUNDERSTANDING 4: Baptism is a work; we are not saved by works.
Verses often used: Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 4:1-5. The
works mentioned in these verses are works of merit - we can't earn our
salvation. However, those who teach that we are saved by "faith only" are
contradicting James 2: 14-26. This passage shows that we are not saved by
faith apart from works, but also by spiritual works, as commanded in the
New Testament.
Baptism is not a work of merit. but an act of God's mercy allowing us
this avenue of salvation, according to Titus 3:5. In Luke 7:30, the Pharisees
refused baptism and rejected the counsel of God. John 6:29 teaches that
even the act of believing is called a work - the work of God. Acts 10:35
says that he that works righteousness is acceptable to God.
MISUNDERSTANDING 5: We are saved by grace through faith
(Ephesians 2:8).
Acts 17:30. This passage shows that we must repent, but confession and
faith are not mentioned. So we don't have to believe or confess in order to
be saved? Right? ...
Matthew 10:32,33. Confession is mentioned, but neither believing nor
repenting is mentioned, therefore we don't have to have faith or repent?
Right? ....
I Peter 3:21. Baptism is mentioned, but neither faith, repentance, nor
confession is mentioned. So all we have to do is be baptized? Right? ....
Why are these conclusions not right? Because we cannot isolate one
passage about salvation from other verses dealing with that subject.
54
 CHURCH GROWTH

Grace - everything God has done to redeem mankind.

/. Promise of the redeemer.
2. Death of Jesus on the cross.
3. Giving of the plan of salvation.
4. Preservation of the Bible.
5. Sending of the apostles out into the world.
6. Includes God's providence.

Faith - everything man must do for his sal\'ation.

I. Believe in God.
2. Tum away from sin.
3. Believe in Jesus as the divine son of God.
4. Confess faith in Him.
5. Be baptized as an act of faith.
6. Be faithful unto death.
Noah is a good example of being saved by grace through faith.
Genesis 6:8 - Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. So God in His
mercy told Noah what to do - build an ark. It was a huge job, but he did it
exactly as God asked.
Hebrews 11:7 - Noah prepared the ark with godly fear, and it was called
lilithfulness.
MISUNDERSTANDING 6: Baptism is only a figure of our salvation,
signifying we have heen saved (I Peter 3:21 ).
1 Peter 3:21 Does not say baptism is a figure. but a "like" figure. Just
like the flood waters saved Noah. "Baptism saves us".
MISUNDERSTANDING 7: In Mark 16:16 ,Jesus does NOT say, "He
that believeth not and is baptized not shall he condemned." Only the
unbelie\'ers are condemned.
Parallels: Digestion example:
I. He that cateth and digesteth shall be li\Ied. but he that eateth not
shall be hungry. (If one does not eat. he certainly won't digcst.)
Car Dealer Example
2. He that believeth and is baptized shall receive a new automobile,
but he that believeth not shall be rejected. If you refuse to be baptized, is
the dealer obligated to give the automobile? NO. You didn't meet both the
conditions. ,~

From John Mark Wilson's book, IIlft ~ tQ WMtng !.!R ttl! f!n! ~!l.
55
 CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION
Questions about the Soul
Felix O. Aniamalu
To ask what a soul is, is as
good as asking what a man is lor we
cannot talk of the soul without talk-
ing of the man; neither can we talk
of man without talking of the soul.
On that beautiful day when God
stepped down on the ground and
became a Potter, fashioning what we
know today as man, we learn that
God did congratulate Himself for the
job well done in the things created.
He then sought a crown, a leader, an
ovc;rseer over all the perfect things
He had created. This desire resulted
in the making of man.
However, as with all works of
pottery made from clay, man
remained like a log of wood -
lifeless, immobile, and. of course,
useless. At this point in time, God
came to the motionless figure,
breathed into its nostrils the breath of
life, and man became a living soul!
Quite unlike ordinary animal
creations, this new being was
described as "made in the likeness of
God", sharing His divine nature. He
was a composite of the physical
body and the immortal soul. As God
is Spirit, man's resemblance of Him
is in his soul, which is also spirit.
56
Without the soul - the immortal
element - the body is dead and is
destined to return to the dust from
which it was made.
Socrates, a great Athenian
philosopher, was reputed to have
said, "All men's souls are immortal
but the righteous souls are both
immortal and divine." Hence, Albert
Magnus advised, " ... let thy chief
care be to remain inwardly united to
God in the intellectual part of the
souL"
In the words of Isaac Bashevis
Singes (a Nobel Laureate), "The
soul never dies and the body is
never really alive." "The soul
comes from without into the human
body as into a temporal)' abode, and
goes out of it anew ... for the soul is
immortal," stated Ralph Waldo
Emerson. The belief of the
Godians, Hindus, Buddhists, Krish-
nas, Eckankar, etcetra, in reincarna-
tion, though wrong, attest to their
belief that the soul never dies.
While the quotes given are not
inspired, the Scriptures make it
clear that the soul docs not die phys-
ically, though it may die spiritually.
Because of the imprint of divine
 CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION
nature in man, the soul is always
longing for fellowship with its
Creator. The Psalmist said it all
when he sang, "As the deer pants
for the water brooks. So pants my
soul for You. 0 God. My soul
thirsts for God. for the living God.
When shall I come and appeal'
before God?" (Psalm 42:1,2).
Other passages of Scripture
clearly attest to this fact. Man has
been told of the futility of directing
his steps, which only God can suc-
cessfully do. We long lor liberation
from the consequences of sin and the
inevitable judgment that faces us.
God, being merciful and not willing
that any person should perish (sutler
eternal damnation; John 3; 16,17),
made provision to buy man back
from the slave market of sin where
he had been sold by Satan.
How Valuable Is a Soul?
The value of a soul is ines-
timable. No mathematician, statisti-
cian, or accountant can put a price
tag on its value. Christ made us to
understand that the value of a single
soul is far greater than the riches of
the world. He said: "For what shall
it profit a man !l he shall gain the
whole world. and lose his own sOllf?
01' what shall a man give ill ex-
change for his soul?" (Matthew
16:26) In fact; the soul is so valu-
able that it cost the Son of God His
57
lile to salvage it from the enslaving
power of sin.
Why Does the Soul
Need to Be Won?
To ensure that man once more
has fellowship with the Father of
spirits, the soul needs to be won
back from its lost and condemned
condition. It needs to be won to
show its gratitude for the goodness
and wonderful works of the Creator.
Finally, the soul needs to be won so
that it can enjoy the spiritual bless-
ings that are only in Christ Jesus.
Hear Him: "There is no man
that hath left houses 01' brethren. or
sisters. or/ather. or mother or w!fe.
or children. or lands. for my sake
and the gospel·s. but he shall
receive an hundredfold now in this
time ... and in the world to come
eternal life" (Mark 10:29,30).
What an astounding promise for an
obedient soul!
[_ Howls a Soul Won?]
Now we address the question,
"How is a soul won?" What is the
short answer? Through the preach-
ing of the Gospel.
Up to the lime Christ was
arrested, He walked the roads of
Israel, preaching the Gospel of the
kingdom. At the appointment of the
twelve apostles, He gave them a
 CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION
limited commission, "Go not into
the W{{V of the Gellliles, and illlo any
city of the SamaritatlS enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6).
When Jesus was dying on the
cross, before His last breath, His
last words were "It is finished,"
Included in those three words would
have been, "Walking the streets of
Jerusalem is finished; My limited
commission to preach only to the
lost sheep of Israel is finished; My
work physically on earth is finished;
My work of saving man, atoning for
his sin, is finished."
"You, now, will be my legs to
walk the streets of Jerusalem, Judea,
Samaria and unto the uttermost part
of the earth. You are to be my mouth,
preaching 'repentance and remission
of sins in my name among all nations'
(Luke 24:47), From the beginning, I
have used angels in giving My mes-
sage to My servants, but tbe Gospel
is yours to preach to tbe world. If
you develop cold feet towards this
mission, the Gospel will be hindered,
but be assured that My word must
endure. though heaven and earth pass
away. I count on you as My ambas-
sadors and would use you in reaching
the lost. I look to you to obey My
words. I have no other plans for
bringing the message and hope of sal-
vation to the lost. Go."
Jesus is counting on you and
me. There is no boundary to our
58
catchment area, even though our
initial target would be those within
our vicinity. From there, we are to
spread our outreach to embrace any-
one, anywhere in the world. Little
wonder the apostle Paul talked of
the Gospel in earthen vessels and of
the beauty of the feet of those that
preach the Gospel (2 Corinthians
4:15; Romans 10:15).
Jesus, Himself, laid down the
requirements for the salvation of the
soul: "He who believes and is bap-
tized will be saved; but he who does
not believe wili be condemned"
(Mark 16: 16). The Gospel that we
obey is a picture of the death, burial.
and resurrection of Christ.
Have you obeyed Him, for the
salvation of your soul? ~
I came into you
through God's breath;
Without me you're a mere dust.
I'll live in you
and keep your body alive;
Your action will determine
my destiny in eternity.
While your body without me is dead,
I am different,
I could live without the body;
Like the one who gave me to you,
I never die.
['II live in eternity
for good or for bad.
My name is Soul
and I cannot be seen.
Felix O. Anlamalu Is a preacher of the
Gospel In Ghana, Africa.
CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION

One Mission
John Gipson
"The church has many ministries but
only one mission." It's a line I ran across in
my reading and can't seem to forget it.
I think of Christ. He perform'cd many
good works. He showed compassion, fed
the hungry, healed the sick, gave sight to the
blind, cast out demons, cured lepers, and
raised the dead. His ministries were many.
But His mission was one! "The Son o/man
is come to seek and to save that which was
lost" (Luke 19: 10), and Jesus passed that
mission on to His disciples. In prayer, He
said to the Father, "As thou didsl send me
into the world. so I have sent them into the
world" (John 17: 18).
We all remember the charge Christ
gave: "Go therefore and make disciples of
all nations. baptizing them in the name ofthe
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
teaching them 10 observe a/l that J have com-
manded you; and 10. I am with you always.
to the close ofthe age" (Matthew 28: 19,20).
If you knew that you had only one week
to live, what would you do with it? Would
you tell as many people as possible about
Jesus and the good things of the Gospel?
One man expressed his desire in memo-
rable words:
Happy ifwilh my latest breath
I might but gasp His name.
Preach Him to all. and CIJ' in death.
Preach Behold, behold the Lamb. ".
John Gipson works with the Windsong Church
of Christ in LIHle Rock, Arkansas, USA.:
59
 CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION

Can't Be Moved?
Danny Boggs
A large rock (an ugly dull "I was stunned. That rock had
orange rock. about a foot in diame- persisted beyond living memory.
ter) greeted newlywed Janet Fithian Each family had taken it on faith
when she moved to the family farm that the previous generation had
with her husband. The rock stuck up tried and failed to remove it"
a couple of inches through the lawn ("Rock of Ages," Reader's Digest,
at the corner ofthe house. March 1994, pp. 89-90).
"Can't we dig it out?" she asked What if Jesus had assumed that
after she hit it with the lawn mower, all Pharisees and Sadducees were
breaking the blade. Her husband and set in their ways and could never be
her father-in-law explained that the moved? What if Jesus felt like oth-
rock had been there at least since the ers did about tax collectors? What
Civil War, and no one had ever been if Jesus had let people's assump-
able to get it out. tions, such as "no good thing can
Later in lite, Janet decided to come out of Nazareth" (John 1:46).
make the lawn more attractive. She
made many improvements, but until
that sore spot at the southwest cor-
ner of the house was healed, the
yard would never look nice. So she
decided to dig out the rock.
She writes, "I braced myself for
what was to be a long day, perhaps
experienced by generations who had
tried to dislodge the rock ... but if it
took the whole day, that rock was
going to come out" Five minutes
later the rock was out. What had
seemed immovable was only a foot
deep and six inches wider than it
looked from the top. She pried it
loose with a crowbar and hoisted it
into the wheelbarrow.
60
 CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION

prevent His ministry? What if He

had ignored those who were not of
His own race? What if He had
Definition of
shied away from "unclean" people? a Christian
What if He had condemned adulter-
ers without offering them the possi-
He has a mind
bility of forgiveness? and knows it.
Yet, how often are Christians He has a will
today like the Pharisees of Jesus' and shows it.
day and don't want to associate with He sees the way
- or to teach - such sinners? and goes it.
Had Jesus presented His Good
News only to people who had much
He draws the line
in common with Him, there really and toes it.
would be no Gospel message. We He has a chance
should honestly yearn for the day and takes it.
when we can say that many more A friendly hand,
Christians in our midst were sexual- he shakes it.
ly immoral, idolaters, drunkards,
A rule-
slanderers, and swindlers, but have
been washed, sanctified, and justi- He never breaks it.
fied in the name of the Lord Jesus If there's not time,
Christ and by the Spirit of our God he makes it.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11). He loves the truth.
We don't know how our Stands by it.
friends. neighbors. and loved ones
Never, ever would deny it.
will respond to the Gospel the first
time or the next time that they hear He hears a lie
it. "Therefore. my beloved broth- and slays it.
ers, be steadfast, immovable. always He owes a debt
abounding in the work of the Lord. and pays it.
knowing that in the Lord your labor He sees the path Christ trod,
is not in vain" (I Corinthians
15:58). People may not be as
and g.·ips the hand of God,
immovable as we think. ~
and follows it.
Danny Boggs preaches for the HIll- - Bulletin Digest
crest congregation In Neosho, Miss-
ouri, USA.
61
 CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION

The Thief in the Church

Charles Cash
Someone has said, "The greatest challenge to faith is not intellectual at
all, but rather shallow indifference." As I see it, the greatest threat from
within the church is not false doctrine, vile sins, or even the loss of faith, but
rather simple indiOerence.
Indiflerence is "the thief in the church". It robs the church of our time,
our talents, and our support. Indifference kidnaps the members out of
Sunday School and worship, saps the enthusiasm of members, sabotages all
kinds of good programs, and takes the pleasure out of serving Jesus.
Of all problems in the church, indifference is the most difficult to deal
with because it is not identified as an evil behavior or attitude. Many
Christians are not against what we are trying to do, nor are they really for it.
They're just ind ifferent !
There is a saying, "Trust a person little who praises everyone; trust a
person less who criticizes cveryone; trust a person least who is indifferent."
People can change their minds. A man's right to hold a certain view
does not mean that vicw is right. One can be led to a fuller knowledge and
understanding of the Scriptures. Christians can be "cquipped" for greater
service and guided in fruitful ministries for the Lord. We can grow and
mature as we correct our mistakes and become more like Jesus, but not if we
are indifferent. Why? Because those who are indifferent do not see that
there is error or sin in their attitude. After all, they're not committing a
crime or even a moral sin! So, where is the wrong?
Another word for indifferent could be "lukewarm". One of Jesus'
harshest condemnations was for those who come into this category. He
warned: HI know your works. that you are neither cold nor hot. J could wish
you were cold or hot. So then. because you are lukewarm. and neither cold
nor hot. J will vomit you Ollt of My mouth" (Revelation 3: 15,16). 'U'

62
 o you me.asure up?
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest
your hope fully upon the grace that Is to be brought to you at
the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not con-
fonning yourselves to the fonner lusts, as in your ignorance;
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy In all your
conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality
judges according to each one's work, conduct your-
selves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible
things, like sliver or gold, from your aimless conduct
received by tradition from your fathers, but with the pre-
cious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot.
He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of
the world, but was manifest In these last times for
you who through Him believe In God, who raised
Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that
~,_•." your faith and hope are In God.
Sinee you have purified your souls In obeying
the truth through the Spirit In sincere love of the
brethren, love one another fervently with a pure
heart, having been born again, not of corrupt-
Ible seed but Incorruptible, through the
word of God which lives and abides
forever.

63
 CAlLY CHRISTIAN LIVING
God's approval of us as indi-
vidual humans is dependent upon
many things. Certainly it would not
be possible for one to receive divine
approval without the person's
acceptance of Jesus as God's Son.
Jesus said, "Therefore / said to you
that you will die in your sins; for if
you do not believe that / am He, you
will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
Further, we are made accept-
able and approved for addition to
the family of Christ, the church,
through belief, repentance and bap-
tism. Acts 2:38 tells us, "Repent
and let eve", one ofyou be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ .... "
Verse 47 explains what God did in
His approval of their obedience: .....
the Lord added to the church daily
those who were being saved"
We can readily think of nUlner-
ous other conditions for approval by
God. Some of these are: participation
in scriptural worship (John 4:24);
having godly character and lifestyle
(2 Timothy 3:1-10); being obedient to
God's will (2 Thessalonians I :8); and
bearing fruit (John 15:8).
64
Paul told Timothy to study to be
approved of God. We read in 2
Timothy 2: 15, "Be diligent [study) to
present yourself approved to God. a
workman who does not need to be
ashamed. rightly dividing the word of
truth." This condition of approval
makes it possible to satisi)' other con-
ditions. Many people are religious
and consider themselves approved of
God even though they are not obedi-
ent to Him 'and are not doing His
will, as revealed in the New Testa-
ment (Matthew 7:21-23). In order to
please God, one must know His will.
However, we can know God's will
only when we know His IVord and
how to "rightly divide the word".
Further instructions to Timothy
can yield more understanding of this
important condition of approval.
Consider the following verses:
• I Timothy 6:20 "Shun profane
and idle babblings; for they will in-
crease to more ungodliness and their
message will spread like cancer. ..
• 2 Timothy 3:23 ..... Avoid fool-
ish and ignorant disputes. knowing
that they generate strife. ..
 CAlLY CHRISTIAN LIVING

• 2 Timothy 3:24-26 .... . A ser- Those who desire to be

valli of the I.or" must not quarrel.
hur be gel/tie to all. able to teac/t.
patient. in humility correctillg those
who are in opposition. (( God per-
haps will grant them repentance. so
thaT (hey may kilo II' the truth. and
that they m(/,I' come to their senses
and escape the snare 0/ tlte devil.
huving been tuken captive hy him to
do his will. ..
• 2 Timothy 3: 16, 17 "..111 scrip-
ture is given by illSpira(ioll of God.
alld is profitahle for doctrine. for
reproof: for COl'l'e,·tioll. for instruc-
tioll in righteousness. that the man
o/God may he complete. thoroughly
equipped/or eve,:" good work. ..
..•.
approved of God must study, learn,
and apply the Word. However. in 2
Timothy, the person approved of
God is called a worker. We are to
do God's work. The Gospel is to be
taught to alJ men everywhere
(Matthew 28: 18-20). This can be
done only by those willing to work
and know God's Word.
To reach heaven we must be
approved of God, which means we
must study. Study brings knowl-
edge, understanding, faith, and the
ability to obey. y
Wayne Barrier lives in Florence,
Alabama, USA, and Is Involved with
the World Evangelism team In taking
the Gospel throughout the world •

1!)Vi 11«1, ~~. q~ 7

"Aoccdmig to rseearch at Amabrigde Uinervtis.y, il(f~osn\.
. .
mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in' a wrod,.re.,theoln:Y'tihng, is<
taht the fiist and Isat Itteerbcarthe rglUt pciae. The 1'$~( ~be"
ttoal mses and you can sitU Tiled it wonthit a porblem. nbs is
bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istief.-but
the wrod as a wlohe."
Many people mistakenly think the same holds true of
reading God's Word. that the order and details 'are not
important, that a verse here and there gives one sufficient
knowledge to please God. However, Jesus said, Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds
from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). We cannotl'earrange
any of the requirements or commands to suit ourselves, or
to contonn to some religious doctrine created by man. and
still correctly "spell" the salvation of our souls before God.

65
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING

Now That
I Am a
Christian
Tim Childs

Now that I have

"tasted that tile Lord is
graciolls. I will
intensely crave "tlte sin-
cere milk of lIte word"so
I may continue to grow
spiritually (I Peter
2:2,3; Matthew 5:6). I
must remember that
when I am young and
weak in the faith, I am in
a vulnerable stage of my
development. Satan wants to steal the Word out of my heart, or otherwise
render me unable to produce fruit for God (cf. Matthew 13:18-23). Jesus
said, "Herein is my Father glorified. thaI ye bear mllchfrll;l; so shall ye be
my disciples" (John 15:8). I must remember it is the Word of God that
brought me to this point, and it is the Word of God that will move me along
in my spiritual development and fortifY my faith (2 Timothy 3: 14-17).
Now that I hllve learned of God's love for me, I want to love Him
back and prove my love for Him (John 3:16; 1 John 4:19). I am able to
demonstrate my love for God by drawing nearer to Him, as James instructs
his readers to do in his epistle (James 4:8). Further, I will seek God's coun-
sel, walk in it, and obey His Son (John 14:15). whom He has made Lord
(Acts 2:36), and the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22,23). I will not be

66
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
deceived by satisf:1ction in hearing
only. I will be a doe/' of the Word
(James 1:22).
Now that I am washed. sanc-
tified, and justified through Jesus'
blood in His offering of Himself. I
will no longer engage in any
works of the flesh such as fornica-
tion, adultery, or homosexuality (I
Corinthians 6:9-11). Since I have
been bought with a price, I do not
own myself. I now belong to God (I
Corinthians 6: 15-20). I must refuse
any temptation to abuse God's grace
by continuing in a lifestyle of sin. I
am now dead to sin, but alive to
God's power of righteousness
(Romans 6: I ,2). Any sin or work of
the flesh that keeps me from being
solely under the power and influence
of Jesus Christ is something I must
put away from self. This also
includes beverage alcohol and illegal
substances. Through the Gospel,
God will empower me to overcome
all forms of evil and vice so that sin
no more has dominion over me
(Romans 6:14).
67
Now that I have learned that
my sins put Jesus on the cross, I
will not crucify him over and over
again, aDd put him to shame
(Hebrews 6:6; Isaiah 53:6).
Now that I know God has
revealed Himself not only through
nature, but tbrough the Holy
Scriptures and that He alone is
worthy of praise and honor, I will
assemble together with God's chil-
dren upon the first day of the week
to worship him "in spirit and in
Irut"" (John 4:24; Hebrews 10:25).
I will worship him in view of the fact
that He seeks true worshippers and
with a knowledge that we tend to
become like that which we worship.
Now that I know tbat Heaven
awaits those who love God, who
befriend His Son and obey rum in
truth and righteousness, I will fol-
low Him in fighting the good ftght
of failh every day of my life. I will
pursue Heaven's gate with vigor
(Hebrews II: I 0). ~
Tim Childs, a preacher of the Gospel,
lives In Baldwin, Mississippi, USA.
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
Confession time (James 5: 16).
There have been periods during my
forty-three-year sojourn that l have
experienced a certain apprehension
about the future (Mark 9:24). As
much as I hate to admit it, I've not
al ways taken the "Christian per-
spective" in regard to my days
(Psalms 90:12). "Fearful" - Yes;
"faithful" - No.
l have occasionally fantasized
about how much easier and nicer life
would be if(dare l say it?) if I wield-
ed control over the future. l f I, in
some God-like fashion, could keep
tomorrow and all its attendant cir-
cumstances under my tight supervi-
sion. I would manage my surround-
ings - controlling where I live,
how I live (i.e., my standard of liv-
ing), what I buy, where I go, what
happens to me, etc. (Did you notice
all of those personal pronouns)? My
life-text would read, "And Mike
said ... ", and it would be so (cf.
Genesis I). Life would be according
to my script - with no anxiety, no
uncertainty, no trepidation.
Well, experience has been some-
thing of a "tutor". Newspaper head-
lines and untimely events continue to
68
remind me that physical security is
fleeting at best and subject to fluctua-
tion (Job I: 13-2:7; 2 Corinthians
II :23-27). I'm not in control of
tomorrow, nor willi ever be. Mike is
Mike; God is God - and each of us
has different roles and functions -
mine is to learn faith and trust
(Matthew 14:31; Hebrews II :6a);
God's is to oversee and determine
my days (Daniel 4:35). Doug
Sherman, in Keeping Your Head
Up When Your Job's Got You
Down, p. \08 explains it like this:
"Imagine two fight-type aircraft
three feet apart in tight formation
through a wide range of maneuvers.
Perhaps you have seen the Thun-
derbirds do this at five hundred
miles an hour. Now picture the
return to base for landing. These
aircraft can fly in tight formation all
the way to touchdown. When the
weather is poor, landing becomes a
little 'hairy'." Let me explain.
.. These two aircraft in the
cloud.. have aboul twenty feet of vis-
ibility. They fly very close. and the
lead pilot jllst looks at his instru-
ments. The nllmber h\'o pilot just
looks at lead. Wizen they approach
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
the field. the {\I'O pilots will. on sig-
nal.from the lead. lower the landing
gear. and together the aircrafi
change pitch like a porpoise in the
water. Because the number two pilot
is looking out the side (?f rhe aircrafi
instead ofstraight ahead his sensory
perception gives him fum~l' signals
as he decelerates and the nose pitch-
es up and down Sometimes he feels
as if he is in ninety degrees of bank
when he is wings-level with the hori-
zon Noll' if he shijis his foclls from
lead to the cockpit. he ('Quid easily
either slide into lead or all'~r from
lead in the clouds close to the
ground. Either could be disastrous.
.. What we as instructors had to
burn into the memory of students
learning to fly in bad weather is to
trust lead no mailer how scary it
feels. 'Your job.' we would say, 'is
10 follow lead and Slay in position;
his job is 10 make a safe approach. .
But Ihis is tough when you feel as if
Ihe plane is in a steep bank and
about to crash. 11 involves focus and
trust. "
1. Trusting God with my
future is like formation flying in a
fighter jet. It involves following
His lead no matter how scary it feels
at limes. "Though the fig tree may
not blossom. nor frUit be 011 the
vines: though the labor of the olive
may fail. and the fields yield 170
food: though the flock be Cllt off
from the fold. and there be no herd
69
in the stalls - Yel J will rejoice in
the /.ord. I will jO)' in the God of my
salvation. The Lord God is my
strength ." .. (Habakkuk 3: 17-19a).
2. My job is to foclls on the
here and now - today. "See then
that you walk circumspectly (care-
fully). not as fools but as wise.
redeeming the time. because the
days are evil" (Ephesians 5: 15, 16;
cf. Matthew 6: 11).
3. God is responsible for my
future. "Come now, you who say,
'Today or tomorrow we will go to
such and sllch a city, spend a year
there, buy and sel/, and make a
profit'; whereas you do not know
what will happen tomorrow. For
what is your life? It is even a vapor
that appears for a little time and
then vanishes away. Instead you
ought to say. 'If the Lord wills, we
shall live and do this or that'"
(James 4:13-15). He wants me to
relax about the days ahead and
trust Him. "Therefore do not
worry. saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What
shall we wear? '... For your heaven-
ly Father knows that YOII need all
these things. Bllt seek first the king-
dom of God and His righleousness.
and all these things shall be added
to you" (Matthew 6:31·33,11; cf.
Psalm 31: 1,9; Proverbs 3:5,6). 'i}
Mike Benson, a preacher of the
Gospel, lives in Evansville, Indiana,
USA.
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
Power - I1q Rights:
The Right to Become
Jeril (Polly) Cline
Where there is more than one
human being, there will be a power
struggle. Man's will exerts itself
and clashes with other wills, seek-
ing his own desires. No one has
ever been exempt ... not even the
Son of Man.
In truth, where there is one
human being, there is a power strug-
gle ... within. Whose will is going
to be done - mine or my Maker's?
God reveals our Savior's humanity
as He struggles with this great
dilemma just hours before His
arrest, trial, and crucifixion: "My
soul is deeply grieved (see Hebrews
5:7) .... My Father, if it is possible,
let this cup pass from Me; yet not as
I will, but as Thou wilt" (Matthew
26:38,39).
Our Lord continues to pray a
second and third time: "My Father,
if this cannot pass away unless I
drink it, Thy will be done" (Mat-
thew 26:42,44). Control is being
relinquished. The Father's will is
becoming the will of the Son.
Hebrews 9: 14 tells us that
Christ offered Himself through the
eternal Spirit to God. This. then. is
the key to our own victory over
70
self/sin. As Jesus said. '" can do
nothing on My own initiative" (John
5:30) and tied it directly to His wiIl,
"because 'do not seek My own will.
but the will of /lim who sent Me, ..
so we can do nothing apart from
Him (John 15:5). Through Him we
otTer ourselves up to God, resulting
in righteousness, holiness, fruit for
God, and eternal life for us (Romans
7:4-6).
Hear Ephesians 5:2: "Walk in
love just as Christ also loved you,
and gave Himself up for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God as a
fragrant aroma." "Just as" (in the
same manner as) Christ loved me
and gave Himself up for me, I offer
my "self' on the altar as a fragrant
aroma to God. There is no greater
sacrifice than to give my will up to
the will of the One who made and
loves me. By this voluntary empty-
ing of myself, those around me
come to see a living demonstration
of Christ (I Peter 3:1-5; Ephesians
5:22-29); I become the fragrance of
Christ to God; an aroma of life to
those who long for life; and God is
glorified (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
Over and over in the Gospel of
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
John, Jesus uses the phrase "My
own initiative. ....... the words that /
S0' to you 1 do 110t speak 0111\{V 011'11
initiative, but the Father abiding in
Me does His works" (14:10) ...... /
do nOlhing on ,\(vown initiative, but
/ speak these things as the Father
taught Me" (8:28). ..... / have not
even come on A1y own initiative, but
He (God) sent Me" (8:42). "For /
did not speak on My own iniliative,
but the Father Himselfwho sent Me
has given Me a commandment as to
what 10 say and what to speak"
(12:49). Even the Spirit of truth
will not "speak on His own initia-
tive, but whatever He hears. He will
speak" (16: 13).
Nothing was done on His own
initiative. Nothing. Except... "For
this reason the Father loves Me.
Because 1 lay down My life that /
may take it again. No one has taken
it away from Me, but 1 lay it down
on My own initiative. I have au-
thority [permission, lawful power to
act] to lay it down, and / have
authority to take it up again. This
commandment 1 received from My
Father"(John 10:17,18).
Only He could offer Himself.
Only I can offer myself. No one can
make me give myself up - except
me. Only I can initiate it. I have the
right to empty myself of myself and
to be filled with God and the light of
His life and love, or to go on strug-
gling with myself in a living death
71
full of darkness and separation. It is
my God-given right.
John begins his Gospel with
these words: "All things came into
being by Him, and apart from Him
nothing came into being thai has
come into being. /n Him was life.
and the life was the light of men ....
He came to His own. and those who
were His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him. to
them He gave the right to become
children of God. even to those who
believe in His name. who were born
not of blood. nor of the will of the
flesh. nor of the will of men. but of
God" (John 1:3,4,11-13).
In the way of God, empty
becomes full ... not filled with your-
self, but filled with Jesus Christ.
His living, loving nature and per-
sonality, lifestyle and manner
become yours (2 Peter I :4). As He
changes you, your husband, child,
church, and community are affected.
Now that is real power - the power
to become, by the working of God
(Hebrews 13:21; Philippians 2: 13; 2
Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29).
From this point on, how are
you planning to obtain all that
belongs to you? By maneuvering,
protesting, recounting, litigating -
the world's way - or by relinquish-
ing - God's way? ~
Jerll (Polly) Cline Is a writer and a
preacher's wife living In Blue Ridge,
Georgia, USA.
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
Bonnie Rushmore
Coronary
heart disease
is the number
one cause of death
in American women today. Web-
ster's Talking Dictionary defines
"coronary" as "of or pertaining to
the heart. 2. pertaining to the coro-
nary arteries." This dictionary fur-
ther defines "heart" as "a muscular
organ in vertebrates ... that receives
blood from the veins and pumps it
through the arteries to oxygenate the
blood during its circuit."
Thus, "coronary heart disease"
would be any physical ailment that
affects the heart or the surrounding
arteries. Currently, much research,
money and effort are expended to
educate people about this national
killer. Women are encouraged to
alter their eating habits and
lifestyles to lower their risk of
developing the disease which claims
the lives of almost 250,000 women
annually in the United States.
As tragic as this may seem,
there is another form of heart dis-
ease that is not covered in these sta-
tistics and has far reaching conse-
72
quences. Spiritual "heart disease"
will cause one to lose his or her soul
in eternity.
The spiritual heart is not the
pulsating pump that pushes blood
through our arteries. giving life to
our bodies. The spiritual heart is
the mind, which, when educated
through knowledge and experi-
ences, decides how we will deal
with the various challenges we face.
Just as we must take care of the
physical heart to sustain life on
earth, we must also take proper care
of the spiritual heart to sustain life
in the hereafter.
Our physical heart becomes
diseased when we fail to maintain a
nutritional diet for a healthy body.
Our spiritual heart will also become
diseased when we fail to feast upon
the Word of God. The apostles Paul
and Peter used the terms milk and
meat (physical food) to explain the
spiritual diet one must eat (I
Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5: 12-14;
I Peter 2:2). One of the duties of
elders is to feed the church (Acts
20:28; I Peter 5:2). When we will-
ingly miss worship services, Bible
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
classes, Gospel meetings and the
many other opportunities to feed on
the Word of God, we are setting
ourselves up for "spiritual heart dis-
ease."
Unfavorable environmental fac-
tors can affect our physical hearts.
Our spiritual hearts are affected
when we allow ourselves to become
involved in activities and around
individuals that encourage us to for-
get God. Continued association
with individuals who fail to
acknowledge and who curse the one
true God, view pornography, use
vulgar language, and practice
immoralities will eat away the
armor that is to protect our spiritual
heart (Ephesians 6: 11-18).
Likewise, abnormal conditions
will affect both the physical and the
spiritual hearts. The continual bom-
bardment of the eyes and ears with
pornography, vulgar language, sex-
ual activities, and other immoralities
through movies, television, radio,
internet, magazines, etc. will desen-
sitize our spiritual hearts, pulling us
away from God's way of life.
Just as an infection in the phys-
ical body can affect the heart. the
infection of sin can affect the spiri-
tual heart. Sin, for which we do not
repent, can weigh on our spiritual
heart, separating liS from God
(Isaiah 59:1-3).
There are many symptoms and
indications of physical heart dis-
73
ease. Likewise, there are symptoms
of spiritual heart disease. The most
noticeable is choosing to spend
more time with people of the world
who pull us away from God than
with Christians who will uplift and
encollrage us to serve God. JeslIs
stated in Matthew 6:21, "For where
your treasure is, there will your
heart be a/so." Jesus went on to
explain that we cannot be faithful
and loyal to God and the devil at the
same time (Matthew 6:24), God
wants our whole heart, not a part of
it (Psalm 119:2). Our words and
our actions are the outward expres-
sion of what is in our spiritual hearts
(Matthew 12:33-36). What is the
condition of your heart?
Many times, the physical heart
is permanently damaged through
disease or heart attack. This is not
true with the spiritual heart. God
can heal and restore the spiritual
heart no matter how damaged it
may become through neglect and
abuse on our part. If we will obey
the Gospel through baptism, ask
God to forgive us of any sin com-
mitted after baptism, and make a
renewed effort to study the Bible.
applying it to our lives, God will
make our Bible hearts free from
spiritual disease and defect. l'
Bonnie Rushmore Is a staff writer for
Voice of Truth International, labors
dally with World Evangelism, and
lives In Winona, Mississippi, USA.
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
W ,H A,T MAKESGO'D CRY?
Jerry Bales
We are all familiar with death.
We also know the sadness and grief
associated with the loss of a dear
loved one in this life. We must
never forget that God is concerned
with our sorrow. In John II :35 we
find the shortest verse in the Bible
which simply says, "Jesus wept". In
only two words, tremendous mean-
ing is conveyed.
This one verse shows the
humanity of our Lord in a very ten-
der way. Sometimes we wonder
why He was weeping when He
knew that Lazarus would live again
very shortly. Most likely Jesus, as
God in the flesh, wept out of a sym-
pathetic heart for the sadness in the
hearts of those He loved. This is in
contrast to the pagan conception of
gods who are not touched with the
feelings and infirmities of man.
These gods may weep for them-
selves, but in the legends they never
weep for man, nor do they sympa-
thize with man. This verse should
clearly remind us that our God still
cares for us even in the greatest of
tragedies.
I believe that a more important
point needs to be made along this
line. We normally think that the
74
greatest loss and the greatest grief
that can be experienced by man is
the loss of a loved one due to death.
I agree that indeed it is a deep loss,
and it is right and proper that we
mourn and weep over the death of a
loved one, just as Jesus and Mary
and Martha wept over Lazarus.
While we see Jesus weeping
over the death of Lazarus, the word
in Greek is not the one used to
describe the strongest kind of weep-
ing. In the Greek, the word translat-
ed "wept" in John II :35 means to
shed tears or to weep silently. Thus
we see that Jesus' crying was not
the loud wailing that we often asso-
ciate with death.
There is a another word that
means to sob aloud. This is the
strongest word for weeping in the
Greek language and is used only
one time in regard to our Lord. It is
found in Luke 19:41: "Now as he
drew near. He .mw the cit)' and wept
over il. " On this occasion Jesus
was descending from the Mount of
Olives from which there is a mag-
nificent view of the whole city of
Jerusalem. He knew what was
going to happen to the city, but He
also knew that the tragic destruction
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
was unnecessary. The Jews could
have been saved if they had only
turned to Him and to God, but they
refused. Even while Jesus was
speaking these words, the religious
leaders were looking for a way to
kill Him without arousing the anger
of the people.
As the commentator William
Barclay aptly wfote, "The tears of
Jesus are the tears of God when He
sees the needless pain and suffering
in which men involve themselves
through their foolish rebellion
against His will." The significant
point of this is that while God is
concerned with any grief of His
people, it seems that He is most
deeply grieved for their spiritual
loss and their needless suffering.
I especially appreciate the pic-
turesque language used in Mat-
thew's account of this occasion. He
wrote in 23:37, "0 Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, the one who kills the
prophets and stones those who are
sent to her! How often / wanted 10
gather your children together, as a
hen gathers her chicks under her
wings, but you were not willing!"
There used to be a TV commer-
cial depicting a Native American
Indian sitting on a horse, looking
75
over a polluted world. Tears were
streaming down his face as he
viewed the mess mankind had
made. I imagine a similar scene in
this passage in Matthew. We can
see the tears in Jesus' eyes and hear
the pain in His voice as He utters
those words and views the sinful
and spiritually polluted city of
Jerusalem.
The greatest loss of man is not
physical death or destruction, but the
loss of our souls. God sent His Son
to prevent that, but far too often men
today are like the people of
Jerusalem in the long ago. They can
be saved, but they are not willing.
We grieve deeply over the loss
of a family member or material pos-
sessions but seem to care little about
the possible condemnation of our
souls. That is a loss which undoubt-
edly grieves God beyond our com-
prehension, and what makes the loss
even more tragic is the fact that it is
unnecessary. It does not have to
happen if man will simply tum to
Jesus and His Word. Will you not
decide to obey Him today? ,}
Jerry Bates Is a preacher of the Gos-
pel, working with the World Evange-
lism program and living In Winona,
Mississippi, USA.
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
~~~a~Goes
Aro'lI~d. Co~es
Aro'li Y1.d."
Roy Beasley
You have heard the old saying.
"What goes around comes around."
Also. there is the familiar warning:
"Chickens come home to roost."
Sadly, most of us can attest to the
truthfulness of these statements by
our own human experience. Life
does have a way of paying us back
for the wrongs we commit.
This was certainly true in the
life of Jacob. The name Jacob
means "supplanter" or "trickster" or
"schemer". By all evidence he lived
up to that name. Esau, his twin
brother. complained to his father
Isaac: "Is not he rightly named
Jacob? For he hath supplanted me
these two times: he took away my
birthright: and, behold, now he hath
taken away my blessing" (Genesis
27:36).
Jacob cheated his brother Esau.
However. Esau was not blameless.
He is described as a "profane" per-
son who did not appreciate his
birthright. But, Jacob was sly and
cunning. He took advantage of
Esau. Later on. in the land of Padan
Aram. Laban took advantage of
Jacob. Jacob worked seven years
76
for the hand of Rachel in marriage.
but Laban put one over on him. He
gave him Leah instead. and Jacob
had to work another seven years for
Rachel. Jacob complained to
Rachel that her father ""ath
deceived me, and changed my
wages ten limes... .. (Genesis 31 :7).
"What goes around comes around."
Jacob conspired with his moth-
er to deceive Isaac when his father
was old and nearly blind. In later
years, when Jacob was old. his sons
deceived him about the death of his
favorite son, Joseph. They did not
have to say anything. All they had
to do was to take Joseph's coat of
many colors and dip it in blood and
show it to their father and let his
imagination go from there. "What
goes around comes around."
Jacob and his mother used the
skin of a goat to deceive his father
Isaac. Jacob's sons used the blood
of a goat when they deceived him
into believing that his son Joseph
was dead. "What goes around
comes around."
This principle is taught in
God's Word. the Bible. Galatians
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
6:7 says: "Be not deceived; God is
not mocked: for whatsoever a man
sowelh. Ihal shall he also reap. For
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of
lire Spiril reap life everlasting. ..
The context shows that Paul was
speaking of the use of our material
wealth, but the principle applies to
all of life. We shall surely reap as
we have sown, not only in eternity,
but in this life as well. "What goes
around comes around."
In the great Sermon on the
Mount Jesus said, "Judge not. Ihat
)'e be not judged. For with what
judgment ye judge. ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye
mete. it shall be measured to .1'011
again" (Manhew 7: 1,2).
Here Jesus refers to harsh,
77
unkind judgments of others. This
would include jumping to conclu-
sions without enough evidence. It
would involve placing the worst
kind of interpretation upon facts at
hand. It is the failure to give any-
one the benefit of the doubt. It is to
be hasty in pronouncing the gUilty
sentence. Jesus says that if we man-
ifest such an unloving attitude
toward others, we shall receive the
same kind of judgments. 1·le is not
speaking of the final judgment here,
but he is saying that this is the kind
of judgment we will receive from
our fellow man. "What goes around
comes around."
Roy Beasley Is Executive Director of
Restoration Radio Network In
Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
 DAILY CHRISTIAN LIVING
NI."f ',,~Ie III.f1
Ron Boatwright
A young man came running to
Jesus and said, "Good Master. what
good thing shall I do that I may have
eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16).
Jesus said to him, "But if yo II want
to enter life. keep the command-
ments" (Matthew 19: 17). The young
man said, "All these things I have
kept from my youth up. What lack I
yet?" We need to ask ourselves the
same question, "What lack I yet?" so
we can be sure of going to Heaven.
We are told to "Examine your-
selves as to whether you are in the
faith. Test yourselves" (2 Corinthi-
ans 13:5). We need to look at our
lives and try to see where we are
lacking and need improvement.
What can we do to be more pleasing
to the Lord? We are told, "There-
fore. brethren, be even more dili-
gent to make your call and election
sure" (2 Peter I: 10). Any s in of
which we will not repent will cause
us to be eternally lost. Jesus says,
... Unless you repent you will all like-
.wise perish" (Luke 13:3).
We need to beware of the false
teaching of "once saved, always
saved". This is a lie of Satan who
wants us to be lost. He doesn't want
us to ask ourselves, "What lack I
yet?" We are warned, "Therefore let
him who thinks he stands ICIke heed
78
lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10: 12).
In addition, we are warned to "be-
ware lest you fall from your own
steadfastness" (2 Peter 3:17). Let's
not let Satan lure us into complacen-
cy. Jesus has promised, "Be faithful
until death and I will give you the
crown oflife " (Revelation 2:10).
To be strong, we must regularly
feed ourselves on God's spiritual
Word, the Bible. We are to
"receive with meekness the implant-
ed word, which is able to save your
souls" (James I :22,23). And
"desire the pure milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby" (I
Peter 2:2). Studying His Word will
help us to have a strong faith to pro-
tect ourselves because we know
that, ''failh comes by hearing and
hearing by the word of God"
(Romans I0: I 7).
We must concentrate on what
we must do to inherit eternal life.
And in doing this, "Let us therefore
be diligent to enter that rest, lest
anyone fall according to the same
example of disobedience" (Hebrews
4:11).
We need to look seriously at our
own lives, to recognize any mistakes
we are making that could keep us out
of Heaven. We need to ask our-
selves, "What lack I y e t ? " ; }
 5-MINUTE
BIBLE STUDY
WHO SAD "LORD''?
Paula Bates

John 14:5 "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest, and how
can we know tbe way?"
Johnl4:8 "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufliceth us."
John 13:37 "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay
down my life for Thy sake."
John 11 :27 "Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son
of God which should come into the world."
John 6:68 "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words
of etemallife."
John 14:22 "Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself
unto us, and not unto the world?"
John 20:28 "My Lord & my God."
John 21:25 "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee."

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79
 HEY! You KIDS!

Let me ask you a simple question.

Who is Number One in your life?
Now I know that a Christian should
say "God is" without hesitation, but let
me ask it another way: Who really
bas your beart? Jesus said that if He
and His Father aren't on top of your
list, even above your Mom n' Dad,
boyfriend/girlfriend, so on and so
forth, then you're wrong. That's a
hard pill to swallow. I know that most
people understand this on an intellec-
tual level but they may not really get
it.
So 1 will give you an illustration
from my own experience.

Now I happen to be in love with a beautiful woman. I'd gladly do

almost anything for her. I'm not overstating the facts when I say that just
talking to her makes me feel joy and happiness. 1 can be depressed but just
thinking about her makes me feel better. When I work out I push myself a
bit harder for her. I have few goals in life that don't involve her in one way
or another. I'm head over heels for her. Though I have yet to pop the ques-
tion I'm rather sure she'll take the job. Have I made it clear that she means
the world to me? She is, without a doubt, the most important person who
walks this earth to me.
Ok, so with that point made, allow me to throw a recent experience at
yOll. A little while ago I ran into a problem. There have been some tough
times between the two of us since I have been in Iraq. So, I'm half a world
away and having a few hard days in a row and she's having some bad days
of her own. I called her and wanted to talk because it always lills my spirits.
The first sentence out of her mouth was, "Good. I'm glad you called.
80
 HEY! YOU KIDS!
We need to talk." Those words are
deadly, my friends. So we talked
and, in a nut-shell, She was having
some worries about a vacation we
were planning together, to the point
that she didn't think she could go.
Now, I hadn't slept that night
and hadn't eaten all day, so I was not
in a great mood to begin with, but
I'm telling you it's not a good thing
to yank something that important
from me. I mean, I was looking for-
ward to that trip, and to be told there
was a strong possibility that it would-
n't happen smarted a bit. It sucked
that I had already sunk over a thou-
sand bucks into it and was getting
ready to spend another thousand, too.
Now I can't get mad at her for
anything, but it depressed the living
daylights outta me that my whole
dream was evaporating. Well, the
real kicker was that the conversation
ended before anything was settled,
so it wasn't a very good night for me.
So the next few days without
much rest and not much food didn't
help the depression. Top that off
with personal family problems and
having to put up with tension on the
field all day, and that comes to a total
of a Depressed Gibson. I mean I did-
n't have any energy to work out, and
hardly enough to do my job. I felt
sick and was not loving life.
Most people at this point will
start blaming God or just asking
I-lim to fix things like they want
81
them to be. At first I did that, and
later I decided to be content with
just a nudge in the right direction. I
also sat up at night and thought
about things long and hard. There
were times that I was tempted to be
mad at God for all of my problems.
But in my heart I knew that's not
right.
But then I tried something dif-
ferent, something that was really
hard for me to do. I asked God to
take control and do what He wanted.
I said, "God, I commit my life and
what's in it into Your hands." In
other words,l handed Him the reins.
Through all of this agony, God
helped me to learn something: This
trip meant a lot to me, and I was
connecting my feelings for my Lady
to it. So when there was a possibili-
ty that it would be taken away. I
reacted in much the same way, on a
lesser scale. as if she was being
taken from me. It was painful to
relinquish control to God in this
case because I love this Girl with
nigh onto everything I've got.
But not everything. God has
everything and that's the 011(\' rea-
son I was able to tum control over
to Him.
So guess what I did after I fig-
ured this out? I went and spent that
other thousand on our trip and fin-
ished making all the arrangements
for it. Then I called her up and
talked with her. Told her that all the
 HEY! You KIDS!
arrangements were made and that I
won't try to force her to go, though
I want her to come with me. So we
left it at that and then talked about
other things. The conversation was
good and I came away with a feel-
ing that everything will work out for
the best. Whether we make the trip
or not, it will be all right.
Lo and behold, that day my
work load lightened, I got some
good food, some rest, and my family
problem stabilized. And I learned a
valuable lesson: through a painful
situation I got to see just how much
my lady matters to me, but I know
now that God is more important.
I recommend such trials. They
let you know how you stand. God
already knows your heart. He needs
no test to reveal anything to Him,
but he allows you to be tested that
you may better know yourself -
and Him - through the process. It
is good for you to learn when you
say, "God comes first in my life", if
it's really true or not.
As a side note: the important
part of any struggle is not the end
but the means. I could have had the
same second conversation and made
all the preparations and been mad at
God all the time because of my
struggle and fears. Instead, I turned
things over to Him even though my
emotional inclination was to pull
my hair out.
God smiles when you turn to
82
Him during those times because
you're putting your faith and trust in
Him. Though it may be the hardest
thing in the world to do at the
moment, the harder it is the more
rewarding it will be when you've
learned the lesson and say, "Ok.
I'm done. You take it."
Just trust me on this one, too: it
takes years of practice to learn to
bend your will to God and to trust
Him. Kinda like how, as children,
we try to fix something on our own
and fail time and again. Only when
we have admitted that we can't do
it, and ask for help, does the adult's
knowledge hold real value to us.
After all, if you didn't try and fail
but just went to someone else first,
you would know that they knew
what to do but would never really
understand how little you knew.
But that's ok. God, more often
than not, will wait and provide you
with ample opportunity to try and
learn. My advice is to keep at it
because the reward of having a
deeper relationship with God and
trusting Him is worth the pain. <J'
For any comments/challenges
to head-butting competitions, or
other complaints, email me at
zex I@hotmail.com. Can't say I'll
be able to write back but if I can I
will. God bless.
Now go away and let me sleep. '1?
Alex Gibson Is currently in the US
Army, stationed In Iraq.
 THE CHRISTIAN HOME
''WHAT DO YOU MEAN
BY THI __ ERYleE?"
Raymond Elliott
"And it shall he. when your chil-
dren say to YOII. •What do YOII mean
hy this sen1ice' ... ?" (Exodus 12:26).
Because of the hardness of the
heart of Pharaoh, the children of
Israel were still held captive in the
land of Egypt. Now the Lord God
was to bring yet one more plague
upon the Egyptians: the death of the
firstborn of both man and beast.
God was to spare His children
from the awful fate that awaited
Egypt. The Israelites were instructed
to sacrifice a lamb for every house-
hold, and to mark their dwellings
with its blood. In response, God
promised that when the Death Angel
83
swept through Egypt, he would see
the blood and would pass over their
children and livestock.
Moses and Israel were instruct-
ed concerning the further details of
their preparation for this last plague:
they were to have the first obser-
vance of what would become a
great feast that was to be celebrated
annually throughout their genera-
tions. They were to remember the
Lord's Passover and the night when
Death passed through the land.
In the new home which God
would give to the Israelites, they
were to teach their children the real
meaning of the Passover when
 THE CHRISTIAN HOME
asked the question. "What do YOli
mean by this service?"
Later when God gave the law to
Israel through His servant Moses on
Mount Sinai, the people were to
learn His commandments and then
to teach them to their children. In
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 we read,
"Hear. 0 Israel: The Lord our
God. the Lord is one!
"You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart. with all
your soul. and with all your strength.
"And these 1I'0rd~ which / com-
mand you today shall be in your
heart.
"You sllall teaclr tlrem diligent-
ly 10 your cI,ildrell, and shall talk of
them when you sit in your house.
when YOll walk by the way. when you
lie down. and when yO/l rise up. "
The parents were to be able to
answer properly the question raised
by their sons "What is the meaning
of the testimonies. the statutes. and
the judgments which the Lord our
God has commanded YOII?" (Deut-
eronomy 6:20).
The responsibility of teaching
children the ways of the Lord
belongs to the parents. The apostle
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:4, "And
YOII, fathers, do not provoke your
children to wrath, but bring them lip
in the training and admonition of
the Lord."
The church and Christian
schools can assist in this matter, and
84
parents should utilize such organi-
zations as are available in fulfilling
their responsibilities. However,
they must always remember that the
final responsibility for the training
of their children lies with them-
selves, as parents.
Fathers. mothers. arc you able
to answer intelligently and scrip-
turally the questions raised by your
sons and daughters regarding the
existence of God. the deity of Jesus
Christ, the inspiration of the Holy
Scriptures, the creation of the world,
acceptable worship, the Lord's
Supper, baptism, instrumental
music, and the need to keep oneself
unspotted from the world when they
ask, .. What do you mean by this ser-
vice? "
Are you carrying your children
to the periods of Bible study on
Sunday morning and Wednesday
night? Are your children in atten-
dance for all the periods of wor-
ship? Are you studying daily with
your children, and leaching them as
"you walk by the way"? Do you
encourage them to read the Bible,
religious periodicals and books
written by our brethren that would
strengthen their faith in God? If
you cannot answer their questions
today you should nol expect them to
be able to answer your grandchil-
dren tomorrow. 'J'
Raymond Elliott works with the
church In Prattville, Alabama, USA.
 THE CHRISTIAN HOME

""rain Up a Child"
Lewis G. Hale
"Train lip a child in/he W~l' he
should go: and when he is old. he
will nol depart from il" (Proverbs
22:6). This is a very familiar scrip-
ture and is often used to prove that
some parents failed in their duty
when some of their offspring goes
astray. Misconduct of a child may
mean that a parent has failed in
duty, but not always. The general
rule is that we do not depart from
our training. Any other result must
be regarded as exceptional.
Parents must not discount the
value of early training. Many par-
ents excuse the lack of such mold-
ing by claiming the child is too
young for it. Of course, they brag
about how smart their children are,
and at the same time protest they are
too young to be trained in right con-
duct! A child can be very cute
while misbehaving. He may be
young, but he picks up on it quickly
when the parent or grandparent can-
not conceal his amusement at such
capers. He may not yet have
learned to talk or walk, but he reads
your "body language" quite well.
Our children are not computers
that can be programed, with the out-
put as a foregone conclusion. God
allows us to make choices, good or
bad. Sadly, we are very wilful and
often make bad choices.
Most of us see the words,
.. When he is old, he will nol depart
from il ". but overlook the stipula-
tion "train". Many parents do a lot
of talking and little training. We
must tell children what they need to
know. But, we must do more. We
need to provide experiences which
plll into praclice what we lell them.
They need to be Irained to act right
and also trained to feel right. When
our correct knowledge and our emo-
tions run parallel, we will do right.
Let's train our children. 'l'
Lewis G. Hale works with the South·
west Church of Christ In Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, USA.

----------------------------------------~~~~.-------------------------------------------

The most beautiful sight from the pulpit is a whole family

seated together in a pew. The worship service is not a
convention to which a family should send a delegate.

85
 Teach H.lm Qently
Teach him gentlv,
Uttle Teacher. ,
He has known no
\: l
;,:.:..
o",e but you; ;~':-

And your honest

loving teaching
Will Inspire him to
be true.

Teach him tenderly ••••

His teacher
Will Impress upon his mind
All the attributes of g~odness,
And, In tum, he will be kind.

Teach him quietly .....

A teac:her .
With soft words can turn away
Childish anger, and your pupil
Will be self-controlled someday.

Teach him carefully ••••

No teacher
Can afford mistakes
When the souls of generations
Hang on errors that she makes.
Teach him gently, Uttle Teacher,
Teach him laughter, teach him tears;
For each moment spent.ln teaching,
You will live a thousand yearsl
author unknown

86
 PROVERBS
My friend Charlie arrived home
from work at his usual hour of 5
p.m. and discovered that it had not
been one of his wife's better days.
Nothing he said or did seemed to be
right.
By 7 p.m. things had not chang-
ed, so he suggested to his wife that
he go outside, pretend that he had
just gotten home, and start all over
again. His wife agreed.
He went outside, came back in,
and with a big smile, announced,
"Honey, I'm home!" "And just
where have you been?" she replied
sharply. "It's after seven o'clock!"
An old gentleman who had been
married for 65 years was asked for
his observations regarding marriage.
He thought for a moment and said,
"Well, I'd have to say that the most
87
17:22
difficult years of marriage are those
following the wedding."
A mother was dropping her son
ofT at a friend's house. She said to
him, "Will you be good while
Mommy's gone?"
The boy replied, "If you give
me a dollar!
His mother shook her head and
said, "Why can't you be good for
nothing like your father?'"
Here are a few BuUelin Bloopers
from a variety of cburcbes:
• "Don't let worry kill you
ofT....... let the church help."
• "For those of you who have
children and don't know it, we have
a nursery downstairs,"
• "The peacemaking meeting
scheduled for today has been can-
celed due 10 a conflict."
• "Barbara remains in the hospi-
tal and needs blood donors for more
transfusions. She is also having
trouble sleeping. She has requested
tapes of Preacher Jim's sermons."
• "Irving Benson and Jessie
Carter were married on October 24
and so ends a friendship that began
in their school days."
 PROVERBS
• "Please place your memoJ'iul
donation in the envelope along with
the deceased person you want
remembered."
Jack's mother ran into the bed-
room when she heard the boy
scream. She found Juck's twoyear-
old sister pulling the boy's hair. She
gently relaxed the little girl's grip
and said comfortingly to Jack,
"There, there. She didn't mean it.
She doesn't know that hurts."
She was barely out of the room
when the little girl screamed.
Rushing back in, the mother asked,
"What happened?"
"She knows now," Jack replied.
A little girl became restless as
the preacher's sermon on giving
dragged on and on. Finally, she
leaned over to her mother and whis-
pered, "Mommy, if we give him lhe
money now, will he let us goT'
A theater owner found a wallet
with no name and $700 in it. He
announced to the audience, "Will
the person who lost $700 please
form a double line at the box
office'?"
88
17:22
Food for Thought
Seat belts are not as confining
as wheelchairs.
Middle age is when your mem-
ory is shorter, your experience
longer. your stamina lower, and
your forehead higher.
He who dies with the most toys
is still dead.
Dear God, I have a problem;
it's me.
Did you ever notice that when
you blow in a dog's face, he gets
mad at you, but when you take him
for a car ride, he sticks his head out
the window?
Why do you have to "put your
two cents in ...... but it's only a
"penny for your thoughts"? Where's
that extra penny going'?
It's the start that stops most
people.
Don't be discouraged by failure
or satislied with success.
Sympathy is two hearts tugging
at one load.
A wise man said, "There arc
two things I have learned. (I) There
is a God. (2) I'm not Him."
"In the first forty years in
Egypt. Moses learned to be a
Somebody. In the second forty
years in the wilderness. Moses
learned to be a Nobody. In the third
forty years. he learned what God
can do with a Somebody who is
willing to be a Nobody."
-Dwight L. Moody
 CHARTS AND OUTLINES

OOQi$e~nie ~e~ ~N°O

) Chronicles 29:5

E. Claude Gardner
I. Introduction
A. May we ask: I-lave I done my best'? Am I stronger now than in the
past? Do I know more? Have I yielded to sin? Where do I stand
before God?
B. "Consecrate me"
I. Definition is to "set apart". We think of "dedicate" and "sanc-
tify" (Ephesians 5:26; 2 Timothy 2:21).
2. Re-consecration.
II. Discussion
A. What spiritual cOlldit;olls call for rellewed cOlIsecratiOll?
I. Sin will separate one from God (Isaiah 59:2).
a. Laxness in church attendance (Hebrews 10:25).
b. Failure to eat Lord's Supper.
c. Misuse of the longue (I Peter 2: I).
(l) Harshness and full
of hatred.
(2) Given to profanity.
d. Drunkenness
(1 Corinthians 6: 10).
c. Unseemly relation with
the opposite sex (Ephe-
sians 5:3,5).
f. Dishonesty (Romans
12: 17; 2 Corinthians
8:21).
(/) Failure to pay debts.
(2) Gambling; deceit
g. Indifference. "Just don't
care"; not interested;
give no thought to how
89
 CHARTS AND OUTLINES

to do more; how to help the church to grow.

h. Disobedience (Luke 9:57fl).
2. Hardness or stubbornness of heart, preventing consecration
(MaUhew 13:15,16; Acts 28:24-27).
B. Wh)' be cOllsecrated toda)'?
I. To take away the blemish on the church. that the world may know
and be influenced (Ephesians 5:27).
a. An outsider says, " ___ does this." Yes. but after
re-consecration. we can say he has repented.
2. With sins forgiven you may be ready at any time for the Lord's
return (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
3. Renewed consecration will cause you to have confidence and
encouragement to do more work for God in the future (2 Peter 1:8).
4. It will enable you to forget the past, not by ignoring it but by
repenting and starting anew (Philippians 3: 13,14).
C Tile call for consecration
I. Romans 12:2; I Peter I: 14-16; 2:9.
2. Plea to backsliders for penitent hearts (Jeremiah 3: t 2, 14,22; 5:6;
31:22).
3. Invitation to return to God (Isaiah I: 16-18)
D. "WIIO then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto ti,e
Lord?"
I. Consecrate your service.
2. To the Lord.
3. This day.
4. Willing (1 Chronicles 29:6.9).
III Conclusion
A. Who is ready to consecrate himself to God?
B. You are invited (Matthew 11:28-30).

E. Claude Gardner Is President-Emeritus of Freed-Hardeman University In

Henderson, Tennessee, USA.

90
 CHARTS AND OUTLINES

What hthe Greatest Commandment!

DO Not Kill? Worship God? Love Gad?
Do Good Works? DoNat commltAd~'t.ry?
Be B Good Neighbor? Keep the Sabbath Day?
Love Your Neighbor?

Loy Mitchell
I. The greatest commandment is to IO\'e God with all your beart, soul
and mind! "One o/them. an expert ill the lem'. tested him with this
question: 'Teacher. which is the greatest commandment in the law? .
Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul (llld with all your mind This is fhe first and greatest com-
mandment'" (Matthew 22:35-38).
A. J doubt if the Pharisees expected such an answer.
B. Perhaps they thought he would say, "Do not kill" or "Keep the
Sabbath".
C. Maybe they thought He would say, "Do good works" or "Do not
commit adultery" or "Worship God".
D. Jesus went to the very hean of the maner in His beautiful answer.
E. His answer was good for the people in the first century and it is still
good for us today.
F. The greatest commandment is to Love God!
II. Man must show Iwll' he loves God.
A. This is not done by doing things to please men (Matthew 7:1-8).
B. It is not done by just talking about how much we love God,
C. Man shows his love by obeying God's commandments.
I. Jesus said in John 14: 15: "/fyoulove me you will obey what I
command. ..
2. Those who obey the commands of God remain in His love. "(f
you ohey "~I' commands you will remaillinn~I·IO\·e. just as I
hal'(' obeyed J~I' Father's commands ellld remain in His love"
(John 15: I 0).
91
 CHARTS AND OUTLINES

D. Unless you and 1 are obeying God's commandments we show we

either do not know His commandmenLc; or that we do not love God.
III. Look at some oCthe commands which so many ignore today.
A. Believe in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ. "And this is llis com-
mand: to believe in the name of His Son. Jeslis Christ. and to love
one another as He loved liS " (I John 3 :23).
B. To repent of all sin. "In the past God overlooked slIeh ignorance. bllt
now He commands al/ people evelJ'where to repent" (Acts 17:30).
C. To be baptized for salvation. "Whoever believes and is baptized
will be saved. but whoever does not believe will be condemned"
(Mark 16:16).
D. Remain faithful, doing His will. Please read I Corinthians 15:58
and Revelation 2: 10.
IV. Jesus also tells us of the second most important commandment.
"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as YOllrse!f' All the Iml'
and the prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:39,40).
A. Yes, you and I must love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
B. When we fail to do this, we show that we think little of God and
His will for all men.
C. We show our love for our fellow man by supplying his needs when
we have an opportunity. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus
Christ laid down His life for liS. And we alight to lay down our
lives for Ollr brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees
his brother in need bill has no pit)' on him. how canlhe love ofGod
be in him? Dear children. let us not love with lI'()rd~ or tongue bllt
with actions and in truth " (I John 3: 16-18).
V. Those who fail to love their brothers live in death. "This is the message
YOII heardfrom the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be
like Cain. who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And
why did he murder him? Becallse his own actions were evil and his broth-
er's were righteous. Do not be surprised. my brothers. if the world hates
YOli. We know that we hm'e passedfrom death to life. because we love our
brothers. Anyone who does not/ove remains in death" (\ John 3: 11-14).
Conclusion: Do you love God? Then obey !-lis commandments today.
This is the first and most important commandment. ~?
Loy Mitchell, former missionary to Zimbabwe, and now lives In Dyersburg,
Tennessee, USA.
92
 TEXTUAL STUDIES

~eliable Witne§§e§
Lewis V. Mock

"There are three that bear record In heaven, the Father, the
=I Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. There =
are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water,
and the blood; and these three agree In one" (1 John 5:7,8).

These three witnesses bear testimony to the deity of Jesus, and the
humanity of Christ, of His power, His work, and His Word. Yes, God has
witnesses. Jesus did not leave Himself without witnesses, but said, "I will
send ,1'011 a Comforter" (John 14: 16-18). He said, "Sancti}j· them through
tlU'lrlilh. Ihy word is trlllh" (John 17: 17).
1. The purpose of a witness is to bring forward testimony, which thc Spirit
does. Hear the Spirit speak, telling of the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ (Acts 2). Do not listen to any man, but listen to God's Spirit.
When we choose to listen to some modern revelator instead of the Spirit
of God, we impeach one of God's witnesses and disparage His testimony.
2. The second of God's witnesses is watcr. In baptism Christ was owned
as the Son of God (Matthew 3: 17). The only thing in Christianity that
is associated with water is baptism, which is a likeness to the death,
burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-5). Is there any likeness
to sprinkling or pouring for baptism? When such things are practiced.
witness number two is impeached.
3. The third witness is the blood. Christ shed His blood in His death
(John 19:34). Christians assemble on the first day of the week to break
bread (Acts 20:7) and take of the fruit of the vine (I Corinthians 11:25).
This is the New Testament in His blood, proclaiming to the world the
sacrifice of Christ. When people attend services on the Lord's Day, but
do not observe the Lord's Supper, they impeach witness number three.
Let God's witnesses testify. In that way, you have to be right and can't
be wrong. '?

Lewis V. Mock Is a part of the Lord's church In Biggers, Arkansas, USA.

93
 TEXTUAL STUDIES
The Ca§tine ()ut ()I
satan
Maxie B. Boren
== "••• the Son of God was man"ested that he might destroy =
the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8b).
Sometime near the end of the
first centu,)'. the apostle John wrote
that "the Son of God was manifest-
ed that he might destroy the works
of the devil" (1 John 3:8b). And
what were the works of the devil?
By enticing Adam and Eve 10 trans-
gress God's directive (Genesis 3),
Satan succeeded in bringing sin and
death into the world (Romans 5:12).
Yes, he led humanity into sin and
death. with all the accompanying
shame, heartache, pain, and sulTer-
ing! These were his works! Let
Satan bear the full responsibility for
the misery he has caused!
But at precisely the right
moment in God's timetable, the lov-
ing Heavenly Father sent Jesus into
the world (Galatians 4:4) to redeem
man from the curse of sin (Colos-
sians I: 14). and to make it possible
for humanity to triumph ovc!r death.
In order to accomplish this. it was
necessary for Christ to give Himself
94
as the atonement for the sins of
mankind (I John 2:2; 4:9,10). One
inspired writer said concerning
Jesus, ..... /Ie has appeared 10 plll
awa), sin by rhe sacr(fice of
Himself" (Hebrews 9:26b, 10: 12,
NKJV). " ... that throllgh death He
might destroy him who had the
power of death. that is. the devil ... "
(Hebrews 2: 14).
Thus, during His personal min-
istry, upon His triumphant entry
into Jerusalem, Jesus said, "Now is
the judgmcnt (~l this worlel; now
shall the ruler of this world be cast
out. And I. !f I be lifed lip from the
ear,h. will draw all men IInto me"
(John 12:31,32). Hallelujah!
"Thanks bc to God/or His inde-
scribable gif'" (2 Corinthians 9: 15
NKJV)! <?
Maxie B. Boren Is a Gospel preacher
engaged In evangelistic work In
Bedford, Texas, USA.
 BIBLE CHARACTERS
Betty Tucker
In the tirst book of the Bible,
we read of a man who had great
faith. His name was Noah. He
lived in the 10th generation of
mankind. The world had become
full of corruption and violence
(Genesis 6:5). God was grieved
because of the wickedness (6:6).
He determined to destroy man and
all living things (6:7).
However, God remembered
Noah, a just man (6:9). God gave
Noah a job - to build an ark. He
told him the exact dimensions of the
ark. It was to be 300 cubits by 50
cubits by 30 cubits (approximately
450' long x 75' wide x 45' high).
A Big Boat on Dry Land
Until this time. there is no record
95
that it had ever rained. The earth was
watered by a mist coming up from
the ground (dew) (Genesis 2:6).
Noah was a man of faith
(Hebrews II :7). Bible students
know that faith is the "evidence of
things not seen" (Hebrews II: I).
Noah had his job description, and he
did not waver in his dedication to do
that job.
For 120 years Noah worked on
that boat and preached to his neigh-
bors. How they must have taunted
him: "Hey, Mr. Noah. what are you
going to do with that monster of a
boat? You do not have any water to
sail it."
At last. the task was finished.
Noah took into the ark clean and
 BIBLE CHARACTERS

unclean animals, food, and his fami- Noah rightfully claims a place
ly, as he had been directed. Then in the parade of those great men of
God closed the door (Genesis 7: 16). faith catalogued in Hebrews II.
The Rains Came "By faith Noah, warned of God ...
We read in Genesis 7: II that and became heir of the righteous-
.. ... the windows of heaven were ness which is by faith" (verse 7) .
opened" and it rained for forty days We who live today can be proud of
and nights (7:12). this man who built a boat! <j'
Every person and every living
thing upon the earth was destroyed, Betty Tucker Is a Christian writer liv-
except those eight souls and the ani- ing in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA.
mals that rode in
the ark. Noah's
faith had turned With Faith
what seemed unreal
For every disappointlllent
into a reality.
That eyer comes YOUI' way,
Gone were the
riotous and wicked There also will he happiness
throngs. Gone were Upon anothel' dllY.
the cruel neighbors SOl1letimes there will he failure
who had made fun
In thin.l,(s you try to do.
of God's righteous
But with hoth faith and fortitude
servant.
Then God re- Success will come 10 you.
membered Noah \\'hell life appears its d:lrl\Cst
(Genesis 8: I). The And douds obseure yOlll' view,
waters were dried
You IUlOW that you arc hound to
up, and the ark came
find
to rest upon Ml.
Ararat (8:4). The sun eome shinin.~ through.
When Noah and
his family and all of The faith that you possess in God
the animals came out Is neyer placcd in vain.
of the ark, the first It: will sustain and hc your guide
thing Noah did was Life's finer things to gain.
to build an altar and
offer a sacrifice to Harold F. Mohn
God (Genesis 8:20).
96
 BIBLE CHARACTERS
The Bible reader first meets
Gideon in Judges 6: II. Israel had
enjoyed 40 years of peace after
Deborah and Barak defeated Jaban.
the king of Canaan. Then. the peo-
ple did evil and the Lord delivered
them into the hand of Midian. The
Midianites were extremely cruel to
the Israelites. destroying their ani-
mals and crops, and the people were
starving. The persecution was so
great that they dug dens and caves
for themselves in which to hide.
Gideon, the son of Joash. was
threshing wheat. not on a threshing
floor. but in a \vinepress. so the
Midianitcs would not see him.
Suddenly, an angel appeared to
Gideon. proclaiming. '"The Lord is
97
with you, you mighty man ofvalor. ..
This statement puzzled the
man. "If the Lord is with us, why
has all this happened?"
The angel explained that it was
because Israel had disobeyed God.
who had done so much for them.
The angel further stated that Gideon
had been chosen to save the
Israelites.
Gideon protested. "My clan is
the weakest in Manasseh and J am
the least in my father's house . ..
Gideon was doubtful and begged
the angel to wait while he prepared
a meal for him. The angel waited.
Instead of eating the food, the angel
instructed Gideon to offer it as a
sacrifice. It was consumed by fire.
 BIBLE CHARACTERS
Joash, Gideon's father, had sin-
fully built an altar to Baal and made
a wooden image beside it. Gideon
was instructed to tear it down and
bum it. Taking ten of his servants
with him, he did what the angel had
told him. Because of his fear of his
father and the people, Gideon
accomplished this at night.
Those who worshipped Baal
and the wooden idol were angry and
sought to kill the wrecker of their
shrine. Gathering armies from
many tribes, they camped on a hill-
side near Ophrab, Gideon's home.
Again, an angel appeared to
Gideon with the directive that he was
to save Israel. Again, the Lord
promised He would be with Gid-
eon's army and that the battle would
be won. Yet again, Gideon wanted
proof. Twice he asked for signs,
begging that God would not be angry
with him for the asking. God was
patient and gave Gideon the signs he
requested.
As the record continues,
Gideon's greatly reduced army
scared the enemy soldiers so badly
that they killed each other with their
own swords. Those who escaped
were pursued and defeated.
The people of Israel were grate-
ful to Gideon and asked him to be
their king, followed by his sons and
grandsons; however, he refused.
"The Lord shall rule over YOII, " he
said. Judges 8:28 tells that there
98
was peace in the land during
Gideon's life, and he died at a
"good old age".
There are lessons that we, as
Christians today, can learn from this
biblical account. We often feel
inadequate when called upon to do
something for the Lord. No matter
what the task, if it is God's will that
we do it, He will enable us to suc-
ceed. Even though Gideon consid-
ered himself small and weak, God
equipped him with the strength and
help that he needed.
Another point is that God is
patient with His children. If we ask
sincerely, God will make sure that
we have a clear understanding of
His will.
God reduced Gideon's army to
300 and gave them no weapons.
Don't you imagine it took great
faith and courage to rush the enemy
camp? Surely nobody could doubt
that God's power had won the vic-
tory and not human effort. This is
why God often chooses the least
likely to accomplish His plan.
The next time you are faced
with a task that you feel is beyond
your capabilities, trust God. Do as
Peter did, in Matthew 14:28,29:
Jump out of the boat and start walk-
ing on the water, keeping your focus
on Jesus! <r
Frances Parr Is a Christian writer liv-
Ing In Eldon, Missouri, USA.
 FROM THE HEART OF •••

"AMERICA 2008"

Eddie Cloer
We have to go back to 1991,
sixteen years ago, to find a time
when the churches of Christ
Truth for Today World Mission
joined together in a nationwide
School provides Gospel litera-
attempt to evangelize America,
ture in fifteen languages for
the land we love. Certainly, then,
national preachers and teachers
the year 2008 is a good time for
In more than 130 countries.
us to make a uni fied effort and
reach out to our beloved homeland with the Gospel. Truth for Today
World Mission School (TFTWMS), in Searcy, Arkansas, is coordinating
such an efTort under the oversight of the Champions church of Christ in
Houston, Texas. As part of a global evangelism plan, "Into All the World
by 201S", TFTWMS is spearheading a community outreach campaign in the
US, dubbed "America 2008".
99
 FROM THE HEART OF •••

"Into All the World by 2015" is a 10-year plan of outreach designed

to cover the earth with the basic Gospel message. The backbone of the plan
involves putting millions of evangelistic books containing New Testaments
into the hands of non-Christians, focusing on a different region of the world
each year. The book, printed for various nations under the titles Becoming
a Faithful Christian, Seeking a Better Life, and now Into the Abundant
Life, has proven to be an effective tool in the past. Nearly one million
copies of the book were widely distributed in Africa, India, Latin America,
Russia, and other sections of the world between 1999 and 2005. Here is one
response from Malawi that was
received early in 2007:
"In the name of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, it's my prayer that this
letter will find you in good time. I
have written this letter to tell you
"',.
~,~,...
~.~~d" what has happened through your
-;;~if' .~ ' ~ ' ~ book titled Becoming a Faithful
~
~)A~'- (;t!tl~rI",f.. Pi
'-"'"- ~ Sf'''''' d .",,1- ~ ,,,
a Christian, which we have been
/< .f!t. ,,'tL%;.; fM'Jd"if,., J"""".~j,1., using here in our family even to
JU ~ li. js8 'j7J ~~'''~. (~I~· • ~
% IJ,L~~-, our friends. We only had this one
~_ ,...- -. , " ~
',/JII , ~
.., t-<" •
4-<-" 1tr~
J.>"1' ~.... :- f.¢- too' t,:;
fl$ r.."
1L.,.4
book of your books without the
&.;,,;, t;J ~ ~. ,d 'i.'~"'" (,.1 1#J cover which had been lost. But
;P>-~'#;''''
~ ,
p,..." "twkt!; l.#",rt..bJ-
...."n' to{> ,.~ we saw that this is the book for
''''' t "
L
."
~ J..
ptl"
I:'. "'-. ,.
/'fP' I~,J.' 6N .,
~ ~, ..,~, ~ ' /d:).J.,
th'IS genera t'Ion an d we gave
~'~~''~"'1:.
, P~
:;:1';;;;
Ik, "Z,,;/J> f.j; '"'~~
ik(~ this book to people in our viI-
1
I! 1
..'" !~ r;:", .'11.1;'.1 It;: {,A,,~ {wI>, age rom f personta pers on.
,. :I';"(J.~ IJIfJ-ffII i'" "" .. , God began to work in each
,1).1 if1? l;"-
1eiP- Jb. person's life powerfully, so
that after six months, more than fifty people
were led to Christ by that book. Others also came to Christ
through their testimony. Recently we saw another Becoming a Faithful
Christian book from you with the cover which has your address on it. So
I am very glad to be able to write to you to find out whether you still print
these books, because the one we have here is now completely gone:
The "America 2008" Challenge
This is the current challenge: for the churches of Christ across America
to join hands, as it were, and engage in an intense campaign to teach mil-
lions of people the gospel in the year 2008. These people may be seekers.

100
 FROM THE HEART OF •••

They may be individuals who would like to know Christ as Savior and Lord.
They are people who do not already appear on our outreach lists.
The "America 2008" campaign is designed to unfold in two phases.The
first phase is identifying those who need to be taught, and the second phase
is the actual teaching of those seekers who
have surfaced.
The First Phase
By using the plan proposed by TFTWMS,
Christians can join together throughout
America to share the message of the cross with
those around them, surfacing numerous recep-
tive hearts. How will the prospects-the seek-
ers, the ones who would like to know the way
of salvation-be identified? The book The
Agony & Glory of the Cross, by Charles B.
Hodge, Jr.• is a wonderful way to begin a spiri-
tual conversation with friends, neighbors, and
fellow Americans. A special gift edition of the

101
 FROM THE HEART OF •••
book has been prepared for the non-Christian. When this book is given as a
gift, a spiritual conversation may follow. identifying the seeker and opening
the door to a Bible study with him or her.
The Second Phase
The second phase is the actual teaching of the good hearts that have sur-
faced from the tirst phase. How shall the church do this? How can we be
ready to do the teaching that will need to be done?
When someone responds positively to The Agony & Glory of the Cross.
a Bible study on how to become a Christian can immediately be scheduled. A
brief guide on how to become a Christian is included in the back of the book.
The Christian might say. "Let's go to the last two pages of this book and talk
about the questions." I f the church member is not equipped to conduct a per-
sonal Bible study. he could arrange for the seeker to meet with another mem-
ber of the congregation who has been trained for personal evangelism.
In order for the "America 2008" plan to be successful, the local congre-
gation must have
members who are pre-
pared to give one-on-
one instruction. Truth
for Today World
Mission School has
put together a 13-
week Bible class
series entitled "Shar-
ing the Abundant
Life!' This series by Ian Terry is a personal evangelism workshop on DVD.
It teaches a class on how to lead another person to Jesus, discussing the need
for evangelism that exists in the church, the qualities that a person must have
in order to be a good soul-winner, an approach that can be used to win others.
what to say and what not to say in a Bible study, how to find prospects, and
much more. Every congregation needs to have one of these classes being
taught. It is a crucial part of the plan to share the Gospel in our communities.
The approach to teaching the non-Chrilltian thllt is recommended
in the DVn series is to use the book Into tl.e Abundallt Life. This book
~ontains 316 pages on how to become a Christian and bow to live as a
Christian. plus a complete copy of the New Testament. The last four
pages of the book provide II bome-Bible-study guide to help lead the
reader to Christ_
102
 FROM THE HEART OF •••

The church member can give a

copy of Into tbe Abundant Life to
the person who has become interested
in salvation as a result of reading
through the book on the cross. The
discussion of this book may lead to a
continued study of the subject of sal-
vation. This book-approach to teach-
ing someone about salvation has been
very effective where it has been used.
It's an approach that almost anyone
can use. It combines personal study
with a relational conversation with a
Christian friend -- a powerful combin- ·· .. 0 ·:; ' __
tion.
The two phases go hand in hand.
One leads to the other: Identifying
seekers leads to teaching them. These
phases are designed to stretch over the
entire year.
What Can We Expect?
Wllat will tile book accomplish?
Wonderful opportunities will arise when members of a congregation
give Tbe Agony & Glory of tbe Cross to friends. neighbors, and the people
of the community.

* The person who receives a book will be impressed by the fact

that a Christian cared enough to give him this gift.
* He may give local Christians an opportunity to visit with him for a
few minutes about spiritual matters.
* A few pointed questions inserted into the conversation will reveal
where the contact is spiritually.
* Some people will be open to a home Bible study.
Honest-hearted prospects will be found. This is not idealism; they are pre-
sent in every community. Some have just moved into town. Others have ques-
tions, are dissatisfied with what they are currently doing regarding their rela-
tionship with God, or may be disenchanted with the way they are worshiping.
103
 FROM THE HEART OF •••

What will happen when a congregation puts into place

the DVD Bible-stud), series on uSI.aring the Abundant Life"?
The series will inspire some Christians to prepare themselves to conduct
good home Bible studies. They will find this type of work enjoyable and
very rewarding, and may be able to lead several from the community to
Christ. Conversions will occur only if good teaching is taking place. The
prospects will have to be approached lovingly. Perhaps they will need to be
invited into the Christian's home for a meal. They may need to be encour-
aged by the church in some way.
Wllat will be tile overall result ofl/America 2008"?
Every congregation will have an opportunity to grow from conversions
of people in the community. The bold and visionary congregation who cov-
ers their city or county methodically, going to every person with the mes-
sage of the cross, will identify many seekers. A team of well-prepared
home-Bible-study teachers will be able to bring some of these to Christ.
Through this effort, the church will be connecting spiritually in an important
way with the people of America. We should not expect too much, but we
must not expect too little.
The Strong Points of the Plan
Tllis i... ti,e right time for slid. all olltreach.
Now is the time for a united effort of the churches of Christ. In fact, a
campaign like this is overdue. This could be one of the biggest searches for
prospects that the churches of Christ have ever conducted. Should we not
all participate in it?
The message is rig"t.
What is the heart of the gospel? Jesus died for us, and not only for us.
but also for the whole world. Paul wrote, "For I determined to know 11Oth-
ing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2).
This book, The Agony & Glory of the Cross, says it well; and when it's
given in a caring context, it will be regarded as a beautiful gill. A good
impression will be made, and some basic teaching about what Jesus did for
each of us will go into the recipient's home.
Tile met/wd%g), i... good.
The evangelism is done. as it should be. through the local congregation.
with members being called upon to do something about leading the lost
around him or her to Jesus. Funhennore. the Bible studies are set up within
already existing relationships. The members are asked to go first to
104
 FROM THE HEART OF •••

prospects whom they already know and love. Research shows that this
approach is a key to the retention of those who have become Christians.
The goal is realislic.
Why can't the churches of Christ easily contact and visit with 7,000,000
new prospects in 200S? It has been conservatively estimated that there are
1,250,000 members of the churches of Christ in America. Suppose half of
these members made a list of fifteen people whom they know who are not
Christians. Then. suppose they gave each one listed a copy of The Agony &
and lovingly asked him or her to stand with them at the foot of the cross. How
many would that be? It would be 9,375,000 people, personally contacted and
invited to become Christians during the year 2008. Yes, this goal is reachable!
The cost is ",illimal.
The cost of this elTon to the local church will be minimal, for very little
funding will come out of the church budget. Funds are being raised to help
provide copies of The Agony & Glory of Che Cross for those who want to
participate in the "America 2008" campaign but cannot provide these mate-
rials for themselves. Individuals or congregations who have been blessed
with the means can obtain copies of the book for the suggested donation of
$1.00 each. The church of Christ nearest to the prospect will provide Into
the Abundant Life. which is available for $1.50.
This is a key time ill the history of ti,e church.
If we do not evangelize, the church in our community may die. We
have everything to gain by engaging in this campaign. It's extremely impor-
tant for us to pull together. to be of one heart and soul, to go back to grass-
roots evangelism, and to do what the church has been commanded by our
Lord to do-to teach our families, our neighbors, and the world.
About Truth for Today World Mission School

For more Information 'or to request booksandmaterial5t.

please .~ontact Us at: .
··America2ooa"
Truth for Today World Mission SchoOl
2209S Benton
Searcy, AR 72143
~01·2&ao.7588
staff·@allthewi;)rld2015.org
www.allthaworld2(J15.of91amerl~aQQa

105
 Truth for Today World Mission School
"And the things which you have heardfrom me in the presence ofmany wit-
nesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also ..
(2 Timothy 2:2).
Truth for Today World Mission School is a multifaceted non-profit
organization providing an education in printed form for national men who
are preaching and teaching in their own languages to their own people.
Directed by Eddie Cloer, a professor of Bible and preaching courses at
Harding University, TFTWMS strives to teach faithfully the Holy Scriptures
of our Lord.
Pictured are selected
issues of Truth for Today,
a publication of Truth for
Today World Mission
School. Material is
now available in Eng-
lish, Arabic, Chinese,
French, Indones-
Ian, Italian,
Portuguese,
Russian, and
Experienced Spanish, plus
missionaries agree that the survival Hindi, Kannada,
and spiritual growth of congrega- Malayalam, Pun-
tions planted around the world jabl, Tamil, and
may depend on the availability of Telugu In India.
printed Bible-study materials. The primary
focus of TFTWMS, a monthly publication called Trul" lor Today, is
designed to address this need. This publication is sent to tens of thousands of
preachers and Bible teachers in many nations all over the globe. Each issue is
the equivalent of a ISO-page book and is filled with expository Bible studies,
including sermons, class suggestions, and visual aids. It is ad-free and is sent
overseas free of charge. Translating offices have been established in Brazil,
Costa Rica, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, and Ukraine. Arabic and Chinese
materials are translated in the United States.
Bible studies are available at www.hiblecourses.com. All of the materi-
als on the site are provided to help people in their search for truth and under-
standing of the Bible, and to strengthen their efforts to teach others about
Jesus Christ. The lessons are available in many languages and can be down-
loaded free of charge to use in personal study and teaching. -q.
 ~~ ,"I§§I()~~ ~~~I:.4T
at
Ma~ood £hr1dJan £amp
HAMILTON, ALABAMA
MAY 1-3. 2008
Sponsored by:
World Evangelism School of Missions
and
Double Springs Church of Christ
Other Information
Check in is from 12 until 2 PM on Thursday
and the program will conclude at 10 AM on Saturday.
RSVP by April 30 to 256-766-2807
or 662-283-9946 if you plan to participate.
Cost; $10 /per person/per night. This includes your food, drinks, and
snacks for the retreat. Pay when you check in. Main speakers and
wives are free.
Accommodations; dlLAir-conditioned cabins -Men in one, women in
another. Uyou feel you can't handle the camp atmosphere, there is an
Ecoo-o-Iodge and a Days Inn about 4 miles from the camp in Hamilton.
What to Bring: Bedding (for twin size- bunk-beds), towels, toiletries,
clothes, etc., lawn chairs, umbrellas, missionary attire for Thursday
night meal
Location: Maywood Christian Camp
700 Maywood Drive
Hamilton, Alabama 35570
Website for camp: maywoodchristiancamp.com
(See website for map.)

Gospel Gazette Online is a 20-page, monthly ~~~~~~~~S~

Gospel magazine on the Internet, begun by
Louis and Bonnie Rushmore in 1999. Thous-
ands of articles, written by faithful Christians,
are archived and selectable through the onsite
search engine. GGO is free to users throughout L:~==========!!!!:....J
the world. and it is visited regularly even in parts of the world that remain
virtually inaccessible to missionaries. (www.gospelgazette.com)
 World Evangelism
School of Missions
A new school to train workers for mission field
assignments is scheduled to begin classes in
August, 2008 in Winona, Mississippi. Each month
for two years, teachers and students will meet for
2-3 days for intensive classroom instruction. Assign-
ments and follow-up study will be completed between
each monthly meeting.
Instructors will all be missionaries with years of successful mission
work experience. Courses will be practical, applications-oriented, and Bible-
centered. Studies will be designed to equip students with skills to conduct
eflective evangelism efforts in today's mission fields. Methods taught will
be based on the experiences of successful workers.
The founders of this new school are J.C. and Betty Choate, and Wayne
and Janet Barrier. The Choates have conducted successful Asian mission
efforts during the past 45 years and the Barriers have worked with them for
more than 25 years. The methods, processes, approaches. and experiences
of these and other missionaries will be discussed, reviewed, and studied in
the school.
Students are accepted into the program based on experience, education,
and references. The program will not provide basic training to develop
preaching and Bible teaching skills. Applicants should already be equipped
in these areas.
Typical courses include: Introduction to Missions, Survey of World
Religions, Mission Field Evangelism Methods, Evangelism Plan
Development, Fund-Raising and Reporting, Biblical Motivation for
Missions, Biblical Pattern for Missions, Mission Field Assessment and
Selection, Logistics and Foreign Travel. Each year students will partici-
pate in two field trips (2-6 weeks each), to train with an experienced worker.

For more information contact:

Wayne Barrier, PO Box 93, Cloverdale, AL 35617; Phone: 256-766-2807,
wbarrier@hiwaay.net,
World Evangelism, PO Box 72, Winona, MS 38967; Phone: 662-283-
1192; email: choate@WorldEvangelism.org,
Jeremy Barrier, 1119 Lorraine Parkway, Florence, AL, 35630; Phone:
256-766-4073; jnrbarrier@yahoo.com
 THERE IS NO TIME FOR APATHY IN
CHURCHES OF CHRIST!
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THESE GOOD WORKS;
to subscribe, support, publicize, benefit from, and take
advantage of what our brethren are doing to spread
the message of Christ.
.•...........•••••..•......••..............••.•.•........••••••••••......•••••
Are you lookillg for an opportunity to be a
branch, bearing fruit to God? World Bible
Scllool teacllers have that opportunity. Why
not call the WBS office (512-345-8190) or
write to wbsinfo@wbschool.org for full infor-
mation. Make your time count for souls!
............................................................•.•.•...........••
GOSPEL.BROADCASTING NETWORK
Support the .s;lteIII te cable network. being
developed by churches of Christ for the
preaching ofthe.·Gospel throughout the USA
and ultimately to the world. Send your contri-
bution to GBN, P. O. Box 23604, Chattanooga, TN
37422•. Logon to WWW.GBNTV.ORG

"Cllrrellt Issues from a Distinctly

Cllristiall Point of View" - the theme of
"Think" magazine. Phone: 866-313-6474;
email: mail@focuspress.org; Web site: www.focuspress.org. Brad
Harrub, Jim Palmer and Dewayne Bryant offer faith-building seminars .
...........................................•..•..........••..••••........••.••
For pennies per
household you
can spread the
Gospel in your
city through this
doctrinally-sound bi-monthly paper. It wil even be personalized
with the local church's address and news. Phone:256-435-9356;
email: info@jvilJecoc.org; Web site: www.HousetoHouse.com
 Mack Lyon's SEARCH TV pro-
grams are on 76 broadcast TV sta-
tions, 41 broadcast radio stations,
192 cable systems, and 5 satellite
TElEVISION t.IDiISTRY OF M ElJUOND CHURCH OF CHRIST
P,O, 8OX311. ElJt.QIO. 0K1Jnal.OJ11 systems (Dish, GBN, American
Life, DirecTV, and INSP. Benefit
from the lessons. support the preaching of the Gospel. Phone: 800-321-
8633; email: search@searchtv.org; Web site: www.searchtv.org•

I
......••............................••..............................•••....•..

COHlt-
The oldest magazine In
wu the brotherhood, editor
I Nell Anderson has kept
The Gospel Advocate true
to the Biblical message, with attention to current issues and needs
in the church. You will benefit greatly from Its monthly Infusion of

....
truth. Phone: 800-251-8446; Web site:www.gospeladvocate.com

Restoration Radio Network Interna- Restoration Radio Network

tional, led by Roy Beasley. uses short-
wave radio to reach people in English,
French, Philippine dialects. Spanish PC) II... IIlb)~
and Arabic, with a well-organized L..-_ _ _NO$hvill<: TN )7222
_ _ _ _ _ _ _- '

"Apollos Follow-Up Program". Phone: 615 833-4771; Web

site:www.rrni.org. Help reach the masses through radio.

~,~ Doctrinally sound videos are avail-

littl~~ 'Worftf1litfeol1Ji6flSCMO{ able on thousands of subjects
... ~ ~~ 130LantanaLane through World Video Bible
• Maxwell TX 78656-4231 • •
.' USA • School. rhese matenals are used
~ in many Bible Training Schools in
foreign fields. Order them for your own use: support this work finan-
cially and help them make these tools available to many who need them.
Phone: (512) 398-5211; Web site: www.wvbs.org

Apologetics Press has been the voice in

churches of Christ for many years, speaking
clearly, loudly. and Biblically on subjects per-
taining to CrentionlEvolution, the Godhead,
the inspiration of the Scriptures, and many
other vital questions of faith. Dave Miller
has produced excellent DVDs on Tbe Silencing of God in America and The
Quran. Phone: 800-234-8558; Web site: www.ApologeticsPress.org.
 We Are Calling for Your Help Now!
It is Urgent!!!
"I am a Christian, preaching and teaching the word of God to oth-
ers. I have one of your books here, entitled BIBLE THEMES,
which I have read for almost 6 times. I have no other book to read
apart from the Bible. Please, I kindly request for more books that
you may have at the moment - even second-hand books I will
appreciate very much. Martin Mazzai (from Zambia)"
Brethren, are you listening? We are getting many calls from
our brethren in Africa and Asia, begging for THE VOICE OF
TRUTH INTERNATIONAL and other books. Those people are
starved for Christian literature. Will we hear them or will we deny
them the spiritual food they crave? It is up to you.
With our editions in English, Spanish, (Telugu and Tamil in
India), we are printing 60,000 to 70,000 copies of this quarterly
magazine, but our goal is to reach 100,000 copies of each issue (we
wish it could be a million or more!). We can print and ship one box
of 35 copies to a foreign address for approximately $35.00, provid-
ing literature for 35 people. If you send $35.00 a month, covering
the cost of 12 boxes a year or 3 per quarter - 420 magazines -
you will be enabling 420 X 10 people to read 112 pages of Gospel
message in a year. That's 4200 people you can be instrumental in
teaching with this small contribution and small effort on your partl
Think of the good that would do! Surely, most individuals and con-
gregations can spare that much for the spreading of the Gospel.
The world cannot get better without the guidance of God's
Word. Please help us to have the funds to send THE VOICE OF
TRUTH INTERNATIONAL to those who are asking for it.
To I,elp witl, tl,;s particular IIeed. please selld J!1!.!JJ:. c/,ecks to

~
THE VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL
P.O. Box 72, Winona, MS 38967
To speed up your announcement that you want to help,
: call us at 662-283-1192 or send your E-Mail to
I Choate@WorldEvangelism.org
I
Dear Brethren:
o I want to subscribe to the quarterly magazine, THE
VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL. Enclosed is my
check for $12.00 for four issues, or $20.00 for eight issues,
starting with Volume __. My address is given below.
o I want to order the complete set of volumes in print (55
issues) for the reduced price of $2.00 per copy. My address is
given be/ow.
o Please send special prices for WBS teachers and their
students.
o I want to MAKE A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION of THE
VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL. Enclosed is my
check for $12.00 for four issues, or $20.00 for eight issues,
starting with Volume __. The address is given below.
o I want to send $25.00 per month (or a multiple), for a
box of 35 copies (or multiples) of each issue of the magazine
as they are printed. Churches are also urged to use boxes
in this way. Or you may send one payment of $300.00 per
year for four issues. This will help us to send more cpoies to
the mission fields.
o We want to give $35 each month to help send this
magazine to mission fields of the world, including the USA.

(Return this form in an envelope, along with your check,

to the following address, stating your wishes.)
THE VOICE OF TRUTH INTERNATIONAL
Box 11218
Springfield, MO 65808
AU. Byron Nichols

I
NAME :
STREET I

CITY _ _ _ _ _ _ _-IS"""'Tu::AlJ.T.....E_ _ _......J.Z..uIPL.....-_ _ _ ~

 ANSWERS TO PUZZLES

1'~ S~ (from page 23) Bible

1. The Law and prophets. Find
2. Jesus Christ. (from
3. No. We have all sinned. page 52)

4. To be justified means to be declared righteous or 1-0

just by God. The means of the justification is by 2-G
the grace of God as found in Jesus Christ. 3-1
5. Jesus is our propitiation. A propitiation is the 4-K
turning away of God's wrath by the sacrifice of 5-C
Christ's own blood. 6-E
6. Demonstrates God's righteousness. It also allows 7 - B
God to continue to be just while justifying sinful 8 - L
man. 9-H
7. No one can boast about his own goodness. 10 - J
8. Faith. 11 - A
9. No group of man has a monopoly on God. God 12 - F
wants to save all men. 13 - 0
10. Faith. 14 - M
11. It establishes the Jaw. 15 - N
11. AlI men can be saved, but only by the sacrifice
of Christ on the cross. No one can be good enough to
deserve salvation; therefore, it is only by faith that we can
be saved. However, that does not rule out all works, since
our faith must be proven by works of obedience.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: